Rip's Ramble
Life In The Eyes Of...
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Thursday, October 31, 2002
Sometimes the best adult company is your own.
Highlight of the day was Junior being brought to my place of work so I could show him off to everybody :) He held my hand nicely as we walked around the office, said hello to everyone politely and smiled beautifully. Hell, I love that boy.
Other than that, F.A. to be cheerful about.
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
There I was 10 minutes from the end of the Sunderland game, holding my £5 betting slip and hoping they could hold their 1-0 lead. Neither side had looked like scoring all night apart from the flash of inspiration which was Micael Gray just before half time. Then a foul throw just near the penalty area gives Bolton the throw in and it ends up glancing off Babb's head and into the net. I was gutted, absolutely gutted. After another bad prediction at the weekend, my betting account is back down to £15 :(
Sunday, October 27, 2002
Another online game which I like to play now and again is Pictionary. There are numerous rooms dedicated to different topics such as songs and film titles etc. The server generates the word(s) that you have to draw and points are scored for guessing the answers and the number who guess your sketch. I actually won a round for the first time ever this week :) I would recomend a better spec'ed PC than mine [which is everyones :( ] as mine lags a bit sometimes.
It is shockwave based and good for a laugh, even if just to wonder how a picture represents THAT?
If you don't already have Shockwave software installed on your PC, then why not? Lucky for you all, I added a link to their homepage in the left links margin a while back ;)
I hate it when my brain is active at night. I went to bed last night and was still laid there looking at the ceiling at 4:30 (5:30am BST) That was about 5 hours ago and I've been awake again for nearly an hour :(
The swimming bag is packed, we are both fed and dressed and it's time to go splashing again :)
Saturday, October 26, 2002
I was awake at 8am this morning, feeling as fresh as a daisy :) Mind you, when I eventually realised it was Saturday and I was alone in the house I managed to roll over for another hour or so.
Apart from a load into the washing machine, I had an absolutely lazy morning just laid on the sofa watching TV and drinking coffee.
When Mummy and Junior came home after a trip into Douglas, I was shown the face paints that Junior was all excited about. Mummy painted his face first, then he painted hers and then mine. He was so gentle with the brush and sponge, his face fixed with a concentrating look. I sat there looking at our faces and praying the doorbell didn't ring :o
Bathtime then snuggling on the sofa passed the evening until it was bedtime. Tonight's book? Boots Baby Catalogue. Then he closed the book, laid on his tummy and asked me to rub his back so he could go to sleep :)
Friday, October 25, 2002
Sudden Realisation #148
I need my oats (*insert frustrated expression here)
LOL
I've just been catching up on the Forums and my "Comments" and I thought I should say...
Stav,
Meeting Mrs Stav has been an absolute pleasure. She fitted in like a true profesional and it would be quite right to be proud to know such a person. If I was asked for a reference, I would fail to credit her with words suitable for the opinion that I now hold her in and I envy you :) Give her a bloody BIG hug for me mate :)
(Just don't ask her about the comment that 'lit up' my eyes next to the photocopier today) Hee Hee :)
POP!!! goes cork No. 2
:)
Sugar Baby Love - The Rubettes
All Night Long - Rainbow
Ray Of Light (remix) - Madonna
Beautiful Stranger (remix) - Madonna
Princes Of The Universe - Queen
Driven By You - Brian May
Poison - Alice Cooper
Modern Girl - Meatloaf
Design For Life - Manic Street Preachers
Sweet Child Of Mine - Guns & Roses
Paradise City - Guns & Roses
Hard To Handle - Black Crows
Born To Be My Baby - Bon Jovi
In These Arms (extended) - Bon Jovi
You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi
Do I really need to carry on......... ?
It's Friday night and Junior is with Mummy.
I wanted to have a night out tonight, but Sod's Law said that it wasn't to be. Sooooo, I have MP3's queued up for the next 2 hours while more are coming in courtesy of WinMX. The pots are washed and the room is tidy and I've just opened my first bottle of wine :)
Winamp is feeding a Technics Class A amp (approx 15 years old) which in turn is feeding Mission 700's. Sod them poxy little 2" cube satelite speakers with Subwoofer and their "claimed" power ratings. Just because I have limited tastes in music doesn't mean that I don't like to listen to it "properly" :)
Monday, October 21, 2002
I have decided that Diamond Mine isn't actually a half bad game. It is a game of observation and highly frustrating at times (especially when you use the hint button to escape a tight spot). Not one to play when you are suffering with sore eyes or a slight headache. Proof too that even if you have the latest video card and processor, there are still P166 compatable games that can hold your attention for an odd hour or two and are compact enough to pass on in emails.
The Shockwave Homepage also has a few funny animations in the AtomFilm section.
Sunday, October 20, 2002
Oh, and I nearly missed out on winning a tenner on the Lottery.
I check my numbers online and circle them off if I have any. Last night I checked them and nothing, so I screwed up the ticket and binned it, then realised that the webpage was still showing Wednesday's numbers. Hurridly pulled the crumpled ticket out of the bin and smoothed it out, then checked again this morning trying to work around the numbers I'd marked last night. WooHoooooo \o/
Things to do when you are bored #472...
Download a couple of 1 to 3 Mb games to play. Quick, easy and sometimes addictive. And most are child friendly :)
Elf Bowling - Naughty Elves went on strike, so Santa plays 10PinElf bowling. (Advice: Take your time taking your goes)
Elfbowling 2 - Santa and the elves take a summer cruise and have a game of deck bowls.
Elf Bowling 3 - Soon to be released.
Frogapult - Help sweet and cute little frogs to jump onto target on their way home. Hey... No aiming for the Pyranas, Aligator or spikes ;)
Super Collapse - Click 3 or more adjacent squares of the same colour to remove them from the board. Hint: If you can leave one colour to build, you'll score more when you eventually do click them.
Diamond Mine - Very frustrating or Crap? I'm not sure. This is a new one for me, so I'm going persevere a few more times.
Slot Racing - Scalextric on your PC. Junior is a dab hand at building tracks and winning against the computer.
Saturday, October 19, 2002
Looking back at the past week, it is incredible to me that I have only blogged once since last Sunday :o
Where the heck has the week gone?
At least tonight, I have spoken to a couple of friends on the phone and online, but now I only feel fit to fall into my bed.
Swimming pool in the morning :)
Bad news... Sunderland lost 1-0 :(
Good news... Everton won 2-1 \o/ \o/
Why YAY? Because of my Ladbrokes account... I opened it with £20, lost £10 when Sunderland failed to beat Arsenal. I lost another fiver when Michael Owen failed to be the first goal scorer in one of the recent England games.
My last £5 nearly went on Sunderland to beat West Ham at odds of 6/5, but instead was on Everton to beat Arsenal at 4/1. (Actually crap odds when you think that when I backed Sunderland they were 11/1, and 16/1 on some sites. C'est la vie)
So although I was growling as I listened to the Sunderland game unfold, Arsenal scored first, I oooooo'ed as Everton equalised and cheered when I realised that Wayne Rooney (aged 16) was rapidly becoming my hero :)
My account now stands at the princely sum of £25 :) Not a lot, but £5 more than I started with and no bank account pays 25% interest in 15 days. Of course if Everton had drawn or lost, then I would be £20 down over 15 days, but as I said previously, never play with money you cannot afford to loose.
Half time in the Sunderland v West Ham game and the Red & White are a goal to nil down *sighs
Not really a lot to report today. Junior was away last night, so I bought a chinese takeaway had a night infront of the telly. Even the Forums have failed to inspire me for the past few days.
Second half is about to kick off. Must dash ;)
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Solitude III
You ever seen me frown?
Or even heard me moan?
Do you see double standards?
Do I shout you down the Phone?
Do I take away the choices
That let you live your Life?
Do I cause you untold pain
With words sharp as a knife?
Do I live for making you feel like shít?
Do I screw up then curse your name?
Do I force you to a corner?
Do I sob and give you blame?
Do I change my mind with the turn of the wind?
Do You gain comfort from the calm?
Do I wait to catch you off your guard?
Do I think new ways to do you harm?
You ever seen me smile?
You ever seen a glint in my eye?
You ever heard me laugh out loud?
You ever wondered why?
Sunday, October 13, 2002
Sunday... Woke to watch the F1 race, fell asleep again before lap 6 (second year in a row, D'ohhh)
Had a great time at the pool, Shame that the morning session comes to an end at 12, we could have happily stayed in a lot longer.
Called in to see Juniors first childminder on the way home. She's a lovely woman. She has a boy of her own a year older than Junior, so they used to play together there and later at Junior's playgroup. He's at school now, so was nice to call in and see them together again. Message to Ariel: She says "Hi" to you too and hopes you and 'W' are well :)
Called off for a couple of bits and pieces from Bray Hill Garage. Junior asked me if he could have a sausage roll. No probs as I was going to do a quick lunch and a big dinner for later in the day. Before I could ask the assistant, he chirped up "Excuse me please... May I have a sausage roll please.... That one". "Surplus to requirements, these days" I thought to myself ;) He wanted to eat it in the car, but I said he had to hold it until we got home. I saw him from the corner of my eye tugging off small bits, even though when I looked at him, his mouth was stationary apart from an innocent smile :)
We shared a bath tonight, then downstairs with his duvet to have a cuddle on the sofa while he had his milk and biscuits. A read of "Barney" at bedtime, then down to finish off his roast Pork dinner for tomorrow.
I watched Gladiator tonight for the first time. A film that I have been meaning to watch for ages. It didn't disappoint. An epic of a film and worth every minute.
Saturday, October 12, 2002
I'm sitting here, eating Cocoa Pops and listening to some soothing music. Ahhhhhh :)
One of the songs in tonights list is "Annies Song" by John Denver. Did you know that tomorrow (Sunday 13th October) is the fifth anniversary of his tragic death when the plane he was flying crashed near Monterey Bay on the coast of California.
Had a goosepimpley moment at Juniors bed time. We were laying on my bed together just having finished reading a book. I looked at him and his eyes were heavy. I said "When you were a baby, I used to do this and you always fell asleep". I ran a finger gentley across his forehead and down the bridge of his nose. Then again and this time with two fingers slightly to the sides so that the tips of my fingers gentley brushed his eyelashes and they closed. "Is that nice?" I asked. He opened one eye wearily, smiled and closed it again :)
England won their opening qualifier for Euro 2004. The players must have really loved playing on a pitch that looked as if the local rugby team had just finished their game. I've seen ploughed fields that were firmer under foot.
It's the last race of the Formula 1 season tomorrow. Suzuka, in Japan. That means I'll be going to bed tonight with my alarm clock set for 5:45am. It looks as if McNish will be ok to drive after his "little bump".
After the race I'll try and grab another hour of sleep before Junior wakes up and reminds me it's SUUUUUUNNNNNDAY!!!! and the swimming pool awaits :)
Friday, October 11, 2002
Met Stavros for the first time in a pub at lunchtime. You know how you have a picture in your mind of how a person is going to look, act and talk when you finally encounter them in real life. Online, Stav (as we friends call him) occasionally comes across as a greasy, hairy kebab seller with a greek accent. Imagine my amazement when I heard a "Mark ?" and turned round to see a greasy, hairy kebab seller with a Greek accent standing infront of me :o
Anyway, undetered by his ordering of a yard of ale and a kebab (??) we sat, ate and chatted about the Forums, work and life and he really is a nice guy under that chilie stained apron ;)
We'll have to do it again sometime when there isn't the rush to get back to work :) We even discussed how nice it would be to grab a few more friends and have a polite evening meal some time, maybe in the run up to Christmas. Who knows? I'm up for it.
I have a couple of house calls to make tonight. Junior is with Mummy and I've been promising to go visit a friend in their new house with a view to help with a few odd jobs. Before that I'm going to call round at my "partner in crime" from works house to sort out a little problem with his PC. Oh to be popular and in demand :)
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
Is Winter finally knockin on the door? I hope not, I like walking the mile or so to work. With the exeption of 5 minutes drizzle one morning, I haven't got wet once since I started this job back in August :)
There was a card through my door yesterday, a recorded delivery parcel could be collected from the sorting office ??? I went to collect it after work tonight and it was a 35 year and a month birthday card from the sweet Iman in London :) In the package were three little pyramids (Iman is Egyptian) each one a couple of inches high, with engravings on the sides. They are beautiful :) When Junior saw them, he said "WOW!! Pharoh lives in there..." (I knew watching Joseph so many times would be beneficial in some way) Iman's like a little online sister to me as well as being a great online friend. If you're reading this get off the PC and get back to your studies NOW!! ;)
Works going well, I managed to sort my way through a pile of outstanding stuff and clear a few minor hiccups that we'd had with bits and pieces.
Just turned the radio on and Will and Gareth are singing... Turned it off again now... Darn, I'm going to bed soon and I know that song will be on my mind now as I try and sleep. I'll wait a few minutes until it is safe, then try again. I hate it when I get out of the car etc and the last song I hear is stuck with me for the day. You know the ones that for no apparent reason you are whisting or singing to yourself later in the day, and you hate the song? I have often sat in the car waiting for a decent song to come on just so I can sing along and get the rubbish out of my mind.
Night night all :)
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! "Lionel Ritchie" *sobs.
Monday, October 07, 2002
Just football tonight.
Been watching bits of the Man Utd vs Everton game, after 85 minutes, 0-0. I popped upstaris for a couple of minutes, came back down and it was 3-0 :o Everton played well as far as I could see and what on earth happened in the last 5 minutes? i just don't know.
Big footie news for me came during the opening of You're On SkySports. Reidy has gone from Sunderland. I liked Reidy, he had the passion and the fighting spirit, both as a player and as a manager. For some reason it wasn't there in the players. Whether a new manager will get things going again or the problems will continue, only time will tell.
Sunday, October 06, 2002
Thanks to Bambi for this email...
Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems, as submitted by QUANTAS' pilots and the solution recorded by maintenance engineers.
By the way Quanta's is the only major airline that has never had an accident.
P = The problem logged by the pilot.
S = The solution and action taken by the engineers.
________________________________________
P: Left inside main tyre almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tyre.
P: Test flight OK, except autoland very rough.
S: Autoland not installed on this aircraft.
P: No. 2 propeller seeping prop fluid.
S: No. 2 propeller seepage normal. Nos. 1, 3 and 4 propellers lack normal seepage.........
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on backorder.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200-fpm descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for!
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with words.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed
Has been a quiet weekend. Wrote a few letters to familly across and slipped in a couple of photos of Junior, then did a bit of surfing and reading last night. Junior was with his mummy so I was able to consume a few tinnies and sleep off the effects this morning :)
Football match went badly (again) 2-0 down inside 10 minutes and conceeded a third before half time. Sorrensson, the goalkeeper went to make a save as an Arsenal player was coming forward and he landed badly dislocating his elbow. OUCH!!! Second half, the team played better and more agresively, but then Arsenal didn't need to work and were happy to pass the ball around and keep posesion. Jody Craddock (mentioned in earlier blog) scored a consolation goal and When Niall Quin, a former Gunner came on as a sub, he received a standing ovation from the Arsenal fans, That was nice to see :)
Junior came home, ate and fell asleep. but woke after 7 to play for a couple of hours until I was able to convince him it was bedtime.
And that's been it really. Sweet short and simple, Just like me, I guess ;)
Friday, October 04, 2002
I thinked I've sussed this page viewing thing. All I need to do is enter into my text popular search words such as sex, xxx, and porn and I should see an increase on page views, whether they return a second time is another matter ;)
It happened today for the first time, at work the day didn't fly past, I actually found myself looking at the clock wondering how long until it was time to go home. For some reason I sped through my work today and whereas usually I have to rush to finish off before running to catch my bus, today I was racking my brains to finish off the day with.
Met up with a friend for a lunchtime drink (Hiya Blakey) and had a good natter about work, life in general and what the future may hold.
Stav, I'll sort out a lunchtime next week for a drink if you still want to meet up. From your email, it sounds like you work in a handy place but I can beat it and you were close in your choice of watering holes ;)
I'm not a cricket fan, but "Power Cricket" was on the telly behind me as I typed tonight and I couldn't help but turn to watch bits of it. Playing indoors (Millenium Stadium in Wales) and basing boundary scores on where the ball lands in the tiered seating (as the spectators duck) or hitting the closed roof (93 metres high) certainally increased the scoring options and interest value.
Thursday, October 03, 2002
Playing on the PC, listening to Manx Radio, drinking coffee, eating mini chockie rolls and devouring a packet of Bensons..... Happiness :)
Junior had a hair cut today, he was telling me all about his day, then wandered off and all of a sudden, his face as he turned and pointed to his head :)
Having been refused an account with Betinternet I have signed up with Ladbrokes. Cross your fingers for me on Sunday, I have backed Sunderland to beat Arsenal at 11/1 and yes, I obeyed my own rule about not gambling more than I can afford to loose. Not that money is flowing freely at the moment, but I just had notice that my mortgage repayments are going down, so this is instead of buying a couple of cheap bottles of wine to celebrate.
I gave in to curiosity and signed up for a page counter. It came as no surprise that I get a few readers following the link in my signature on the forum. The one that had me stumped was how this page was listed third in a google search for "pennsylvania drivers point system " *insert astounded expression.
Just a quickie before I go to work (Mmmmmm, memories) *snaps out of it ;)
Last night I suddenly felt strange, all quivery and light headed. I hope I'm not coming down with flu. I do feel better for the bath and early night :)
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
I'm not ill, but I aint well either. Me thinks hot bath and bed.
Tuesday, October 01, 2002
I must admit that I prefer the way the blog layout is now. To me it makes life easier and I hope it meets with approval :)
Cambridge Utd 0 Sunderland 7 Look out Arsenal (Live on Premiership Plus on Sunday)
Remember my references to Draglamps on Energy FM? I said I'd give them another mention when their website was up. There's the songs that were aired on the radio and a few others, all for free download. Good luck to them for the future :)
Otherwise a totally "ordinary" day. There are very few things that I would choose to change about my life, but when thinking about stuff to share from it, it's... well... Hmmmm....
...this "should" be under the post from 5 minutes ago
I've changed one of the blog settings. Now each new days blogs will still appear at the top of the page, but if I make 2 or more blogs, they will run chronologically within that day. For example...
