More evidence I'm wasted on these people.. driving from Denver to Moab:

Passing a town called Parachute, "Got some bad news in Parachute.. but luckily they let me down easy"

Nothing.

Passing a town called Cameo, "Nice of this town to make a special appearance!"

Nothing.

- great winter paddle and no one got hypothermia.

I believe doing vegemite and cheese on toast at 3am means you're an adult.

You know how to use a toaster.

You have cheese and bread.

You are not double dipping the vegemite or butter.

You can grill the cheese onto the vegemite T and remove it without burning yourself or the cheese.

You're choosing a snack with minimal clean up.

You're wise enough to realise the sodium in the vegemite is likely going to be a good idea after drinks.

I put a job on airtasker for someone to remove my pile of rose prunings, but apparently that is going to cost way more than I expected. So I'm buying a second hand mulcher this morning and will instead obliterate them into little bits to be buried at the bottom of the new vegie garden beds.

I can see why ‘spring cleaning’ is a thing. Opened the curtains up to let some sunshine in, and now I can see all the accumulated dust. I blame the cat.

Heirlooms have been put back and are now shiny except for the silverware. That's another day.

I just added up everything I have spent on my garden project so far. Boy those little costs can add up! I'm way over my initial rough budget, my general spending account has been completely obliterated.

Fortunately the Marketplace sales have also been going well. My BBQ has just gone off to join a youth group.

Sunday roast let’s go. I should make yorkies with it this time.

reddit melbourne looks a bit sad, one post and even that got downvoted

Had the most horribly vivid dream I was pregnant and lost the baby, a feat made wholly impossible by the simple fact I'm a dude. While I often (like weirdly often) have pregnancy or baby related dreams I rarely have them about myself, so this one was a trip.

Not as impressive as Catfish's efforts but nevertheless I present to you..

Picture of homemade free range chicken nuggets

Decided this afternoon to pack some bread and sausages into a bag and head down to one of the local parks for a BBQ. We've been meaning to go down there for a while, as they've had it closed while they renovate. It's great because they decided to restore part of the creek/wetlands that used to be there many years ago. Now it's a small lake with a little bridge and reeds and other wetland plantings, and the birds have come back! The kids loved it and there was even a cormorant or two! We spent the afternoon barbecuing sausages and bird watching. Then we capped it off with a trip to the 7/11 and Mr Peeler had his first Slurpee. Then he had his first Slurpee brain freeze 😂

Here's a budget-easing fact. If the place you're a patron of sells alcohol, it must also provide free drinking water.

There aren't exceptions for if you aren't consuming alcohol, haven't at that location, and/or do not intend to. The law in practice entitles you to bottled water if drinkable tap water is not an option.

So, if you're buying food at a Guzman y Gomez or Schnitz that has beer for sale at that moment, you can ask for water for free.

PSA if you've flown with Qantas in the last 12 months login to your frequent flyer account before August 30 to claim your bonus 1000 Qantas Points or 30 Qantas Status Points. I don't know if you just don't get them or if they choose for you if you don't pick by then.

I think I'll make some crumpets today. They are a lot of work but delicious and worth it. I can have only one for breakfast and one for lunch because diet. "I am strong enough to resist temptation!!"

Everything's paid up for the conference I'm going to, got accom sorted and the bank balance isn't looking fab, but with all the food I've got in the fridge and bills paid up, plus no more cat indulgences, I should be fine until the next pay. After that... I think eating out is gonna take a back seat for a while. Might look into weighing up cost of car + maintenance sooner rather than later if it increases options of picking up low stress side gigs. Or maybe I could just indulge in living off my savings for a month once the casual stuff ends, and decide on the car when life plans are a bit more firm. Whatever it is, I'll be doing a lot more home cooking and enjoying it

E: speaking of, broc head #1 vanquished - along with a half open bag of green beans. So good using a more powerful stove, a decent wok, and shaoxing wine (how good is shaoxing wine). Haven't used fresh ginger + garlic in a while too. Could eat this dish on its own tbh.

broccoli

Cooking dinner: pasta, with bacon, 1/4'd cherry tomatoes, broccolini, garlic mince, butter, and some love. I will add a picture to this post if I remember to take one lol.

Edit: here it is cooking, just in case I forget

Coffee beans that are more expensive aren't necessarily better. These Aldi medium dark roast beans are just as good as beans twice the price.

Also they are going to only sell Bonjella now behind the pharmacy counter? Absolute Nanny state writ large.

Neoguri ramyun review : very nice. Not spicy enough to frighten the horses, but a definite hint of chili. The seafood was a couple of slices of crabstick which was not enough from my perspective. I added a diced avocado to the final dish and that was very nice. When doing it again, I'm going to add a cupful of marinara mix as well as avocado and a bit more chili. That would be ace. I did enjoy the kelp-y bits. Dashi vibes were strong.

What would you call this? A buffet, bureau, kitchen hutch, cabinet, the big wooden thing with doors, the thingy, mummy's big dust collector? No answers are wrong.

I haz sads. I think I finally have to admit after 3 years of constant use, my Hush Puppies are dead. My feet are starting to ache a little. It’s surprising how annoying and stressful it is to find new shoes.

Plans to be away this weekend were a bust, but I can’t really complain since I snuck a mad day trip to Coffs while over the border last week.

If anyone loves this random last min trips, I also noticed that flights to Byron have been $120-180 for a single leg. Not bad if you can get a few days off and need a change of scenery.

I noticed the trend for Spring Cleaning, definitely joined the crew… I’m going to attack some grout this week. I hope it comes up.

Hope everyone has had a nice weekend!

I've been reading that Wendy's (USA burger chain) is coming to Australia. I tried it tonight and all I can say to those looking to do it is.. don't bother. We have enough sub-par US burger joints. If you're going to bring something over, bring Arby's and don't bloat the prices.

Also, if you're bringing chains over.. bring the full menu AND free refills on fountain drinks. Oh and bring Lemonade (traditional not the Sprite kind) to your fountain drinks! Minute Maid or Tropicana, depending on if you're a Coke or Pepsi shop. It's so god damned refreshing.

Ok rant over. Thank you for your time and consideration.

It's a lovely day outside, and apparently people are chosing to spend it on Marketplace buying things. Lots of items walking out the door today! Some days Marketplace is just a sea of scammers and "is this available" ghosters, but today is not one of those days.

fooootyyyyy

🎼🎶I'm a g-nu, I'm a g-nu
The g-nicest work of g-nature in the zoo!
I'm a g-nu, how do you do?
You really ought to k-now w-ho's w-ho!
I'm a g-nu, spelled G-N-U
I'm g-not a camel or a kangaroo
So let me introduce
I'm g-neither man or moose
Oh, g-no g-no g-no, I'm a g-nu! 🎶🎶🎶

Edit: Flanders and Swann - The Gnu Song

About to embark upon a rogan josh for dins for tm night.

Had everything except for the 1/4tsp of ground nutmeg so took a walk to the shops.

It's a very confusing day I think for a lot of people. 1/2 in full winter gear, rest in summer. And it's only 15c.

OMG is Sunday I have to be up soon 🙂 (<---- existential dread emoji)

12 bottles of beer from this Utah supermarket = $10.99 USD ($17.16 AUD)

They're Miller High Life, so I guess you could compare them with a James Boag's Premium which are $23.99 AUD for 6 so $47.98 AUD for 12

Last of my nice dinner pics for awhile maybe.

Last of the chicken portions, mostly drumsticks and a decided to make a side of pasta with some margarine and garlic and herbs mixed into it.

Chicken with a side serving of pasta.

Morosely drinking red wine,
Wishing I could unwind
The cold dead hands of time.
They clutch my heart
In their firm grasp
I gasp
Pain shoots through my psyche
I got out, I know I'm lucky
But it hurts so goddamn much
I'm losing my grip on reality, I'm out of touch
You compliment me, I blush
I've been taught I'm a burden
And my efforts at creation
Are futile and wasted.
I'm hated and wasted.
...
Please don't worry, I'll be fine,
(I always am, in the end)
I'm merely, morosely, drinking red wine.

Between anxious thoughts and swampy stagnation,
I fear the space I inhabit is above my station.
The sum of my parts is greater than this shell,
Though I still feel I'm wading through the pits of hell.
Remember, an empty shell is tangible potential,
So I smack down this crisis existential.
A mere intermission between trauma and healing,
I can sit and be okay with this dreadful feeling.
I have come so far to be where I am now,
I just wish things came easier to me somehow.
Used and parentified, a mummy bang-maid
Trauma so deep I feel my soul fade.
But I'm still here despite them and their demons,
I'm so much more than their bastard-heathen.
It'll take time and I shouldn't be so hard,
On myself for coming as far as I have.

Exercises completed, felt somewhat arduous. I'm still getting my energy back from my recent flu, but don't want to lose what fitness I've gained. I'll be right for return to work tomorrow I reckon! Looking forward to it as well.

Before I forget again, here is another piece of advice my neurosurgeon gave me to help me cope with sciatica.

Each day try to do 8 hours lying down, 8 hours upright and 8 hours sitting and try to take breaks in all of them. Like, if you are sitting get up after a few hours and do some walking. If you are upright take a rest sitting. With lying down get up in the night for a few minutes if you can.

Does one really need this many egg cups?

The answer is yes because eggs come in all different sizes so you want one that hugs the egg tightly so went you crack the egg with a knife it doesn't roll on to the table spilling your precious yolk :(

Those springy ones if not held correctly can launch an egg across the table like a missile :)