Honesty, the worst fiscal policy

Before Christmas I ordered two copies of 'Buddha Bar: Ten Years' from my favourite online music outlet. One was for me and the other was meant for my brother. Usually I get the discs about 4-5 days after I order them but when they didn't come for a couple of weeks, I emailed them and asked what was going on. They were nice enough to say that they'd been dispatched but since I hadn't received them, they would send me another couple, which arrived safe and sound.

I thought no more of this issue until a couple of weeks ago when I got a postal slip in my mailbox telling me I had a package at the post office. I was a bit confused because I wasn't expecting anything and most things that I buy are able to fit through the slot. (And for some stoopid reason the PO isn't open half a day on weekends like most decent-sized POs, so I either have to take time off work or harrass my flatmate to fetch the parcel cos she works in North Sydney). (Guess which option won?)

She got the packages - it was the missing CDs. The lady at the PO admitted that they'd been "slack" and that the parcels were left over from Christmas (so I was notified TWO MONTHS after they actually came in). The bad thing was, the packages DO actually fit in my mail box (cos the replacements did) so I shouldn't have needed to send my flatmate to the PO after all. Shame Australia Post, shame.

It got worse. I decided to be a good girl and tell CD-WOW that the missing CDs had turned up and that I was going to send them back. I thought I'd just strike out my address and put "return to sender" on the package. Not so. There was no return address on the actual packages, so they gave me an address in CYPRUS. I had to repackage the CDs (they are despatched separately in order to fit through normal mailbox slots) and go to the PO and pay them for what was their mistake. You have no idea how annoying that was. It cost me $9.50 and that was by sea mail, the slowest, cheapest way.

So. Yeah. Being honest. Not always good.

Not a good time

12:17am is not a good time to start working on one's CV. I really don't know what I'm doing. I don't actually want a new job, but I don't feel I can stay where I am, sweet as it is. My time is almost up. It is pouring outside and I can hear the rain crashing down through the trees outside my window.

I am debating the merits of including a 'career objective' on my CV. At the moment I have "To work in a meaningful environment that values high quality written communication skills and provides a collaborative space for new ideas and directions." It sounds kind of wanky but it's true. The problem with where I am now is that no one listens to me. I don't want to rule the roost, I just want to know why I can't do things. It sucks because for the most part I know there's no reason why I can't. This frustrates me. All right, time to go to bed.

(Too much My Chemical Romance. Mae Mae made me watch their DVD doco thingy as they are her new obsession).

The Lone Gunman

The Lone Gunman is so hot right now. Pity that the only two things we have in common is that we work for the same company and we both like photography. Someone told me that he broke up with his girlfriend because she cheated on him but that is just speculation. Should I mention that he is four years younger than me? (They're getting older, I promise - at least he's in his twenties).

Fat Tuesday

Dream: Forgetting to read the Sports section of the Saturday SMH

Reading: Soldier Boy, Anthony Hill
Previous: The Messenger, Markus Zusak

Listening: 'Take it or Leave it', The Strokes
Previous: 'Laugh in their Faces', The Whitlams

Browsing: www.mardigras.org.au
Previous: www.pyrmonts.com.au (going out to dinner tonight)

Thinking: about whether I write first or tidy my room
Previous: about how I'm going to organise friends for the Mardi Gras parade next week

To do: update CV. Write Machine of Death story. Sort photos for travel journal (still pending, sigh).

Snow Patrol (gig)

Snow Patrol
Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park (19th February, 2007)

Snow Patrol pulled all the right moves; a fun lead singer in Gary Lightbody, a band that rocked out and a fantastic light display. My heart didn't feel in it, though. I'm not sure whether it was because it was a Monday (and a Monday following a weekend of events at that) or whether it was something to do with the venue or the crowd.

The venue was the Hordern Pavilion, which I'd never been to before. Firstly, it is a shit to get to cos you have to take a bus from the city or hike through Surry Hills for half an hour. Secondly, it is pretty much square with a big pit in the middle for the moshers and tiered seating around the perimeter. The side seats have quite an angle on them for stage viewing and the back seats seem too far away. It was unreserved so I chose a seat to the right of the stage that was close enough for my myopic eyes but far enough for the angle not to matter so much.

The crowd was about 50% screaming teenage girls, the rest were older or blokes. The funniest pair of teens was a girl wearing a pair of trannie shoes - the really high peep-toe ones in patent black leather - and her friend, who looked to be wearing a white shirt as a dress. Fortunately the lady next to me thought it was as hilarious as I did and we conducted a conversation about the ubiquitous display of empire line/baby doll dresses and tops and the use of shorts as eveningwear (I said shorts were fine for a concert but shouldn't be allowed in restaurants).

I want a stupid 'I was here first' moment. The first Snow Patrol album I bought was Songs for Polarbears in the UK a couple of years back. Sure, they weren't 'new' then, but they certainly hadn't gained much currency in Australia. Then 'Run' from Final Straw came out in Australia when I arrived home. Then The O fucking C put 'Chasing Cars' on their stupid show and suddenly that entire demographic claimed that Snow Patrol were their favourite band. I want to ask Mr Lightbody why they didn't play any old stuff (like 'Absolute Gravity', which is one of my favourite songs). All the new songs made it feel very much like a pop setting for what is essentially a rock band. Sigh. I'll get over myself one day.

So it was a competent concert without a Hell Yes moment. 'Set The Fire To The Third Bar' was nicely done (that song and 'Hands Open' are my faves from the new album) but it was lacking... something. If there is a next time for me, maybe next time they will have it and I will find it.

*** 1/2 - A Babel score = didn't reach its full potential.

P.S: A note about spiders. Gary had an anecdote about going to the park and looking for venomous spiders (because all tourists are aware of the Aussie reputation re: dangerous creatures). This I found to be a large coincidence because my friend Beq, who introduced me to Snow Patrol when I stayed with her in the UK, was recently bitten by a spider and was prescribed bedrest and antibiotics for three days. So there.

This woman has a massive chip on her shoulder

(sorry, I thought it was so ridiculous I had to share)

Fidelity

It's okay. The Chief has broken up with his girlfriend. Which is no small thing, as I believe he has been going out with her for four years. The last time he had troubles, Alias asked him if he truly loved her despite the problems. The Chief said yes. Alias told him to stick with her and The Chief duly followed his sage advice. Until now.

Only, I want to establish whether The Bear was instrumental in the break-up or whether she was a bit player until after the break-up. STILL none of my business...

However, we were talking about infidelity at writers group yesterday and discussing the interesting nature of the way people try to justify it. I think we all know someone who has been in a situation and the excuses that they dream up to justify their behaviour is intriguing to say the least. ("But we were meant to be!" is just one refrain).

I'm not a fan of infidelity. To me, it reeks of an inability to communicate. For me, that is already the death of a relationship. To define the term in my own words, I believe infidelity is a relationship or relational experience that one partner believes s/he has to conceal from the other during an exclusive partnership. This means that swinging couples, open relationships and people who are just dating around (or booty calling) rightfully fall outside the definition.

Further to that, who is to say that someone who is willing to cheat on someone to be with you won't cheat on you to be with someone else? I think that's a fair point. Not to say that infidels are infidels forever, but it's something to think about. The other thing to think about is that it takes two to commit infidelity - it is not wholly the fault of the other wo/man but a shared responsibility.

Okay, rant over. Now I have that Regina Spektor song in my head...

The Beautiful People

It's a Beautiful People pash-fest. Apparently The Bear and The Chief had a pash session at drinks last Thursday (while I was off doing Sydney Festival stuff... how dare they?). Apparently it was all 'harmless fun'. I knew it had to happen sooner or later, people that good looking are magnets - they can't resist each other. I also like knowing something that I'm not supposed to know.

Anyway, Mae-Mae was really affected by it, despite the fact that she's in a long term relationship and has no interest in The Chief (at least she didn't the last time I checked...). Basically, she wanted to know why guys like The Bear so much (this is the third guy from work who has made a play for her). I replied "she's fun, she's intelligent, she's pretty - what can I say?". Mae-Mae seems to understand all this on a cognitive level, but not yet on an emotional level.

I tried another tack. I told her that The Bear is a 'canary'. You know how canaries used to go down the mines to see if the mine is safe? The Bear is like my canary - the guys who fall for her aren't going to come near me, and I'm okay with that. After all, she's saved me a lot of time because I don't spend it chasing someone who isn't worth my while. Add to that the fact that The Chief supposedly has a girlfriend - I wouldn't want to be his if he's going to call pashing The Bear 'harmless fun'.

Anyway, I've seen them together since, at afternoon coffee yesterday and at lunch today. I mentioned this and was told (by someone who didn't know he had a girlfriend) that that has been happening for a while. Hmm. This one is definitely none of my business; I'm staying out. But it's nice to know how the real world works.