next door is having an open for inspection. i'm just sitting on my bed, doodling on the computer and watching this endless stream of people climbing up the stairs next door to go and stickybeak through the house. mum is vacuuming, which is giving me a bit of a headache, but when she stops all i can hear are the footsteps and conversations next door. i hate thin walls.

oh! to live in a stand-alone house!

the general demeanour is one of studied yuppie. brown suede jackets and close cropped hair for the men, sleek bobs and tailored leather jackets for the women. suspicious glances at everyone else and a really-couldn't-care-less-but-if-you-gazump-me-i'll-kill-you expressions. there is a constant cavalcade of cars outside and people parking on the wrong side of the road, and peering disdainfully into our front yard as they go up the stairs.

i hate this. i'm basically anti-social, i know, but i just hate groups of people hanging around. it makes me feel threatened, which is stupid on many levels, but in this context it is acute. the thing i hate even more is that eventually one of these yuppies will buy the place and then we'll be neighbours.

oh! to live in the country in a stand-alone house surrounded by space and lack of people. which is not to say i would live a hermit-like existence. certain people would know the secret access codes and the way to find my little house perched on a mountainside, through the winding roads and rainforesty tracks and only the best ones would come and visit and we'd have slumber parties and watch movies and lie on the porch and look at the stars.

okay. upsides and downsides.

downside: i'm sick and miserable and the doctor said he can't do anything for me and i just have to ride it out. upside: i got my new ibook yesterday so i can lie in bed and plug into the world.

i think that's a pretty good upside, myself.

it also means i can write anytime, anywhere. no more being chained to the desk! i had a huge, painful burst of creativity last week (when i was also sick) and got 15000 words into some semblance of order, then packed them off to my supervisor. consequently, i feel so chuffed i've done absolutely no work all week. all that shall soon change, my friends! well, i can dream, can't i?

i will just say this: it's blogtastic.

now poopsie cootienose has already participated in this but it's worth sharing...

Follow the instructions to find your new name. (The following is an excerpt from a children's book, "Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants" by Dave Pilkey)

The evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names...

Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:
a = poopsie b = lumpy c = buttercup d = gidget e = crusty f = greasy g=fluffy h = cheeseball i = chim-chim j = stinky k = flunky l = boobie m = pinky n = zippy o = goober p = doofus q = slimy r = loopy s = snotty t=tootie u = dorkey v = squeezit w = oprah x = skipper y = dinky z =zsa-zsa

Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:

a = apple b = toilet c = giggle d = burger e = girdle f = barf g =lizard h = waffle i = cootie j = monkey k = potty l = liver m = banana n = rhino o= bubble p = hamster q = toad r = gizzard s = pizza t = gerbil u = chicken v = pickle w = chuckle x = tofu y = gorilla z = stinker

Use the fourth letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:

a = head b = mouth c = face d = nose e = tush f = breath g = pants h = shorts i = lips j = honker k = butt l = brain m = tushie n = chunks o =hiney p = biscuits q = toes r = buns s = fanny t = sniffer u = sprinkles v = kisser w = squirt x = humperdinck y = brains z = juice

Thus, for example, George W. Bush's new name is Goober Chickenshorts.

And mine is Lumpy Girdletush, which says it all, really.

current things

movies:
x men 2
so cool. just...so cool.

television:
current and 2nd season buffy
the west wing
two of my favourite parallel universes

books:
white butterflies, colin mcphedran
all about mcphedran's journey, as an 11 year old, from burma to india through the hukwang valley during world war 2 where his mother and two siblings died. follows his journeys through india, the uk and finally to australia. unbelievably sad and amazing book.

wyrd sisters, terry pratchett
rereading to alleviate intense emotional heaviness of above book.

music:
new irish hymns, maire brennan, joanne hogg and margaret becker
given to me for my birthday by jennie. excellent music.

vespertine, bjork
so cool. just...so cool.

theatre:
blood links, william yang
the most absorbing 'slide show' i've ever seen. amazing seeing photographs of other chinese australian families and noting the similarities to my own family. loved yang's dry humour and stark observations.

food:
chocolate mint cake. a triumph and one i mean to make frequently.
chicken hot pot. great chinese comfort food.
beef and red wine stew. can anyone tell i'm wishing the weather would get colder?