pushing the sky

A couple, probably well into their 60s, if not their 70s. They’re both reading a single broadsheet paper, different parts, each holding their side up with the “outer” hand. In the middle, their hands are clasped lovingly together, assuring each other they are still here, still committed to their relationship, to each other.

My cynicism took a break for that half hour.

Just thought I’d note my next two scheduled visits to Melbourne – 14-17th April (easter weekend), and then 25th – (probably) 28th May for my graduation (which is on the 25th, a nice Thursday afternoon that throws out any chance of me returning to work the next day or turning up for work that day). That’s probably going to be it for a while as in winter I’d prefer to get people to come up here where it’s marginally warmer =P

Things are totally settled now, I’ve run down my list of obligated-to-visit people, I don’t have any pressing items that need to be bought and there’s not a whole lot going down to distract me.

Right.

Looking around the house, I realise that perhaps I’ve been neglecting something. Namely neatness. There’s a pile of dishes in the sink, the laundry basket is kind of full – but more tellingly there’s shirts scattered all over my room and they don’t look like they were artfully placed there. There’s dust bunnies accumulated in the empty rooms. Shoes really need a polish. The single plant I have, a shoot of bamboo, is sitting in mostly green water. The grass outside needs cutting before it starts to gets rampant. There’s leaf-litter everywhere from the big stupid gumnut tree right out front. The study room looks like a literary bomb hit it, with books and magazines strewn about the place. Things generally need to be straightened out.

While nothing has gotten truly unhygenic, it’s the kind of mess that’s easily sustainable without any particular effort what so ever, and it’s not conducive to day to day living. So today is cleaning day designate. I’d call it spring cleaning, except it’s not spring, it’s Autumn. It’s more get-your-act-together cleaning. Time to roll up them sleeves and get to it.

6:45 – Alarm goes off. I reach out and switch it to the radio.

7:04 – Swear, get out of bed. Do the whole morning thing.

7:59 – Start breakfast while watching Sunrise for weather & news. Out the door by 8:09.

8:16 – At station waiting for 8:24 express to city.

9:15 – Log in to computers, read overnight email from London & NY. Catch up on bloglines.

9:45 – Start looking at work. Synchronise with overnight work from others, move into “work” mode

10:40ish – Get up, stretch, fill waterbottle, have small snack (still very much in the ‘Recess’ mindset).

12:23 – Update blog

12:56 – Leave desk for lunch

1:05 – Pay exorbitant price for sushi box, thinking “Hey, I haven’t sushi in a while…”

1:21 – Try to remember why it was so long between ordering sushi box for lunch. Ah, that’s right, because it doesn’t half fill me up.

1:24 – Order garlic bread/toast type thing. Walk away satisfied with salty, garlicy, buttery goodness.

1:34 – decide not much interested in sitting by the harbour with seagulls swooping all around me and return to work.

1:39 – Update blog.

3:15 – “Happy Hour” coffee, $1, not brilliant but does the job.

4:35 – crack Stupid Bug which has been occupying my time for the last day or so. Celebrate.

5:30 – Weekly update meeting thing. Realise there’s a lot of stuff to do yet.

6:10 – Update blog. Leave for home.

7:17 – Arrive home, consider what to cook.

7:25 – Reheat leftovers from the weekend. Suppress stomach growls while waiting for microwave with orange juice.

7:34 – Switch on Channel 10 for new show “Thank God you’re here”. I think it’s pretty funny actually, despite some slow moments. Improv is always funny for the fact that it’s so random.

8:36 – Switch between Spicks and Specks, House and The Movie Show (SBS). I eventually settle on Spicks and Specks because I feel like a laugh tonight.

9:04 – bored with house, I go sit on the net for a bit, catching up on forums and downloads.

9:31 – Go back to the TV to watch The Glass House.

9:37 – Remember I have to iron a shirt for tomorrow.

10:07 – pull out sofabed to have a lie down while watching At The Movies, since I didn’t end up watching The Movie Show. Always liked David & Margret better anyway.

1:22 (am) – wake up on the sofa bed, the sounds of the TV having intruded into my dreams. Groggily turn off TV, computer, lights, hit the bed.

End of Day.