Posts

Size isn't everything........

When it comes to writing a blog :) I love to read, testimony to this is the number of books stashed under the bed as I don't have shelf space for them all. I actually keep a book list on Google docs so that when I buy books I know what I have already read. Sometimes I reread books as with my memory I usually forget most of what I read anyway, but for that brief moment of time on the white reading chair or when I am on a plane I devour books. However sometimes blogs just don't do it for me, maybe it is because I like holding a book, thumbing through the pages, just that intrinsic feel of paper and print makes it special. No Kindle for me. Ok, back to the subject of size. I was going to read a blog today but at the top it said 'Reading Time  - 12 mins', now I know this is helpful to some but to me that just meant reading time = 0 mins as I x'ed out of the blog. Same goes for long winded emails and wordy presentations, I zone out, look for the interesting bi...

Sweep the leg Johnny

"You have a problem with that" Well as well all know Johnny did end up having a problem with that - a Crane kick to the face that has resulted in numerous torn hamstrings as kids (and kids at heart) tried to replicate it. I am sure you are right now thinking 'da'fuck James, what are you pontificating about this time?' Well let me elaborate. Sometimes what we perceive as a weakness can actually be a strength. When you see those brightly colored tree frogs in the Amazon (or on Discovery Channel) we all think that they must be stupid, camouflage is the name of the game in the jungle. But no, what these brightly colored frogs are saying (apart from the fact that they look fabulous) is that they are poisonous little buggers. Johnny went after what he perceived was the weakness however that leg sweep led directly to a case of foot-to-kisser and a bunch of crappy sequels. Recently someone implied that I needed to act more seriously (he may have said professiona...

You don't have to crash your car into the planter box to know that ......

    I was chatting to a friend the other day about different management techniques and I commented that some people will crash a boat 10 times then blame the iceberg. We both found that amusing (as we have experienced that in our many combined years of working in Corporate wherever) but also found it a little disconcerting that it was so true. Surely we have evolved enough as humans to realize that sometimes the best way is to ask for guidance or help, otherwise we will run out of orchestras and Leo DiCaprio's (not necessarily a bad thing). Someone has to steer the ship but there needs to be collaboration. The person on the helm (really getting into this ship analogy right now) needs input from the Navigator, Engineering and the Radar Operator. Back in the olden days they had lookouts posted on the bow and up the mast, now we have radar, sonar and GPS to help plot the route. Without those external inputs the person on the helm might miss the iceberg but chances of getting you ...

Australia History Month Day

It is a little known fact that today is Australia History Month Day. I have decided to share some of the most important things about Australia that you may not be aware of on this historical Poets Day. Now some of you may know that I am a huge fan of all things Australian, like Phar Lap, Pavlova, Crowded House, Russell Crowe and of course the Lord of the Rings movies. What has this to do with Poets Day you may ask. Well many of the people that emigrated to Australia had to work hard all week (mainly because they were convicts) and unfortunately could not really Piss Off as they were in shackles. Actually, nothing to do with Poets Day at all really I just felt like sharing this historic occasion with y'all and also these little known Australian facts: A boomerang that won't come back is called a stick The Great Sandy desert is in fact a great big sandy desert People with Red hair are called Blue, People with Blue hair are called Ethel or Grandma The aboriginal word for...

Me vs my Suburban

I love my Suburban - I call it the beast - it is just like me. Thing has almost 200,000 miles on it, dodgy transmission, a door that doesn't lock automatically, speakers that crackle and fuzz when they work, dim headlights and sometimes it is hard to start in the mornings. I make sure the oil is topped up, get it serviced every now and again, change out dead bulbs and have replaced the door handles a couple of times on the driver side. It has given me concerns, cost me a couple of dollars in maintenance but it keeps on going. I don't want to ever replace it. I need to install new shocks, replace the transmission and fix the stereo but there is no need to replace the beast. Sure there area few dings and dents and miles on the beast but we have driven in snow, ice, up mountains, across paddocks and along beaches. We have had fun. So how does that compare to me. Well I have a lot more than 200,000 miles wear and tear on me without question, however in other ways we are very si...

Work hard and Play hard - the kiwi way

I have been traveling a bit recently which may sound to some like fun but in reality it is a pain in the buttocks. Particularly nasty was a 3 night Austin, 3 night Dallas, 3 night Salt Lake City trip especially after night 5 when my liver just got up and buggered off - still trying to tempt it back with google search results for a liver cleansing diet. Once I get it back I am going to teach it to mess with me - Mr Daniels is going to help me there :) And no I do not have a drinking problem Mum/Guido/etc. Anyway landing back here after my fun little 9 night trip I had a young Dad with his daughter behind me on the flight and they were talking about New Zealand. I happened to have my All Black shirt on and happen to know a little about NZ. Although I haven't been there in a while NZ will never leave me - actually have now lived over 1/2 my life away from home - in reality wherever I lay my hat, that's my home (song now stuck in head damn it) I really need to write this crap...

Poets Day - working from home

It's been a while but time for me to pontificate again :) So I had to ask myself how exactly do you celebrate Poets Day when you work from home (I am finally out of freaking transition) and I realized that the location of where you work does not affect celebrating Poets Day. It is a lot easier to 'Piss Off Early' when all that entails is getting up from the computer, it's not like there is some jack wad clock watcher seeing you walk out a bit earlier on Friday when you work from home - although is this day in age and with some of the stuff I sell/have on my PC in theory someone could. The thing is when you work from home you can be a lot more efficient with your work time as long as you set your mind too it. Sure it can be tough not talking about the latest song/movie/score (sport or otherwise) around the water cooler but sometimes that can be a good thing. I miss not hearing the bubble gum popping, hunt and peck typing, loud ass that I used to share the office with...