Daily Discussion Thread: Wed 18 Oct 2023

Fridge is here! Just as red as promised😁

You have to name it! It's too gorgeous not to have a name.
That’s a beauty! Love the colour.
ooooooooooooooooooooo
Love that colour. Agree with CEO needs a name.
- Hmm🤔
  The mulcher is Chomp. So the refrigerator should be Chill.
  Could be taken as reference to its function or to its chilli red colour, plus it would allow me to use "Netflix and Chill" to involve pigging out.
That's about 50% larger than what I imagined.
- It seems fridges have increased in size along with the average waistline.

I just want to be loaded. Or at least more well off.

I’d move somewhere else of my choice, nicer area, maybe even with an Aldi really close by. Have a real vegetable garden (hiring help if needed) and share the produce with other people. A bottom mount fridge freezer for meal prep. A big catio and/or catproofing so Miss Moo can sunbathe and play in grass without absconding.

A garage or shed to paint in and enough privacy to play music/sing/learn an instrument if I chose. A fire pit and a zone with times where it’s allowed.

Get less stressed and work on my health.

Above all I’d just like to afford to move out of this neighbourhood and not be squeezed in with other people. I just want to live in peace and be left the fuck alone.

yup. people don't want money, they want freedom.
My idea of "making it" is being able to live somewhere where you have choice of train, bus and tram.
But in general I agree, I'd like to be able to live with my partner instead of living at home with my mum. I mean I never really had a plan past 18 except a general idea (depression sucks) but I hate being 28 and living at home. While I'm happy that she didn't kick me out once I turned 18 but still.

WELL, after a very hectic morning and cutting it very fine, I've managed to do 90% of what I needed to (no time to grab fresh bread from Woodfrog, sorry mum - and no time to mop the floors)

Got to bag drop with 20 minutes to spare, blessed with no traffic, weight all good, waiting for takeoff. I know I've been craving sun and warmth but it's like 32 feels like 36 and 85% humidity over there ahahahahaha fuck me I'll be living in air-conditioning most likely 🥵

About to takeoff, I'll hopefully be spamming the DT a bit less and trying to have a life while I'm away - and stuffing myself stupid with food.

eee have fun and safe travels :)
- Mee pok, chai tow kuay, orh luak, nasi padang, fish head curry, petai beans, thosai... all await!
Have a fantastic break!

I'm going to test drive an Outback Touring XT tomorrow to see if I like it.

I am genuinely sad to think about giving up my purple car. We've been through a lot together and I just realised it was with me through my entire 30's. It has seen friends and lovers come and go. It has seen highways, backroads, mountains, ocean roads, ferries, muddy trails, snow, sun and everything in between. It was there for the best times and the worst times. It has been laughed in, cried in, sung in, dined in, and has sat with me during countless moments of quiet contemplation. Most of all it has never once let me down but sadly I think it's time for some other lucky person to enjoy it.

Bathe in its magnificence.

Everyone I know who has owned an Outback (or any Subaru) swears by them. I've seen some of them get to some pretty insane places as well, mate followed me onto the beach in NSW once. I think there was someone over on one of the 4x4 subreddits that had thrown a lift kit and some A/T's on theirs and it looked wild.
The Chap Lap MACHINE
Do you currently, or have you ever owned a spare set of burnout tyres?
- Nope and nope. I may have been a bit of a hoon in my younger years but not to that level. I don't think I've even lit up the tyres in this car before.

First red one!

I remember with my ex a few moons ago giving her a bunch of these and she was dissapointed I didn't buy them. She then went on to say 'jeez they last a lot longer than the florist ones'. Like no shit. I'm still bitter about that.

After going through the process of ordering a replacement myki (due to the old one expiring soon), PTV have just emailed to say that myki’s expiry dates can be extended. Aaargh!

lil carl and mongo chilling in the window bed

kitties are about to drop their next bangin' meowlbum.
- 🤣

Fridge delivery day today! It is much needed, as my fridge is overflowing at the moment and there is no way it can cope with summer garden produce and meal prep. The plan is for the new fridge to hold preserves and fruit & veg for storage, while the main fridge has the day to day stuff and meal prep. Hopefully my future will contain a lot less fridge tetris.

Once the fridge is unpacked I can spend some quality time with a tape measure and the Kmart website ordering some new containers. This should be the last bit of shopping for my little organisation spree. It will probably have to be, as I'm nearly out of money!

Mostly packed, bed is nice and fresh, but I seem to have dislodged a lot of dust as even my air purifier sensed it (the sensors on those things aren't always the best) and thank goodness for that air purifier busily filtering out that dust that I would've just breathed in for weeks otherwise.

Not having a weighing scale is anxiety inducing. Pray that I stay within the luggage limit. goodnight.

Not having a weighing scale is anxiety inducing. Pray that I stay within the luggage limit. goodnight.
Where are you off to friend? Safe trips!
🤞🏻 and goodnight 😘
Buying one of these was a purchase I have never regretted, even though I've only used it like 3 times. Totally worth it.
- It's definitely on the shopping list once I've arrived on the other end!

Always, and I'm always so scared to drop something down there too!
YES! A couple of weeks ago I witnessed a guy get caught between the train and the platform - dead before he stopped spinning. I'm extra careful now stepping into the train carriage. West Richmond station is the WORST! Huge gaps in the middle of each carriage as the platform is curved. I only get on at the ends of the carriage at that station - and the size of the gap still scares me.
- Well that’s horrible.
When I was a kid my mum would say "be careful of the gap" as she reefed me up by the arm and over it.

I think I've officially checked out from work.

I'm just through with doing work and staring off into empty space.

I start my ADHD meds today. Could be a game-changer. I'm nervously excited. If anyone has any experience or insights that they would be willing to share, I'd like to hear it.

How'd you go?
My psych got me to start slow with them, and like as a reminder, they aren't a cure sadly. You still have to do everything but you'll actually get motivated.
Though when going on higher doses, please keep note of your emotions. I went up to 5 ritalin a day and it was like instant depression (and I already have regular depression). Instantly went back to 4 and I was fine. So keep note of how you are feeling when it comes to that.
But this is exciting! I'm so happy for you!
- Thank you! Cheers for sharing your experience and tips. I dropped a 40mg Vyvanse around 10am, had no idea what to expect. Nothing really happened, but I reckon I was more focused on the backlog of work emails as the day went on. All done :)

I have now measured up the space in the fridge and ordered some new containers. I may have also ordered a halloween scratching box for Miss Meow.

From Kmart? It's pretty big.
- Hopefully fair recompense for removing the clothes drying rack and washing basket from the lounge room, and getting rid of the box the garden cart came in. Miss meow still has her shoe box and the storage box in the entryway, but a girl needs more than two boxes.
- It is? Nice. Because so is the cat. I never bought them because I thought they’d be dinky

running on fumes. Today's just been chaos. And I had a mate chose to be a bit of a prick to someone else so I wasted a fair bit of energy on deciding on my strategy to that.

I keep meaning to read and catch up on everyone's life but I get so busy that by the time I remember it's bed time.

But my planner came in today, super excited but oh my God Auspost are something else (not new lbr). But I got the "hey your parcel has been delivered" app message. I'm excited, I check it and see ... That's not my work. It's a photo of a door and some light brick and I'm like ??? Huh? So I took off during my lunch break walking up and down near where work is to see if there's a house that matches the bricks or door but I get nothing.

Until I think "maybe they've dropped it off at 11 instead of 18". I've put down that the address is 18 unit 11 because work is in an office suite. 11 on my street is a retirement village, also private property. Luckily there was a guy coming out to walk his dogs and I asked him if it was okay to go in there (because I've never had to visit retirement homes) and mentioned the misplaces package. He tells me where reception is, I go there, a tradie helps me and tells me where 18 in the unit section is, I go out and a woman who works there said the package is actually in the reception area.

So I was able to grab it. But like Jesus Christ, I'm also in pain because #chronicpain4life, and I wasted half an hour of my lunch break because some idiot couldn't understand that I put the correct information in. I just, ugh.

Had the urge to reread Harry Potter so put the audiobook on since I already have too many books on the go, and jebus christ I don't remember it being that bad. The last time I would have read the series was in high school 10 years ago, and maybe nostalgia was clouding my judgement, but the writing is just awful.

Stephen Fry’s voice makes it a decent listen, at least.
- I adore his voice which I think made the writing sound worse, maybe its because I'm so used to him reading me to sleep with Sherlock or Paddington.
Honestly like I have my own feelings on JKR, but like from a writing standpoint, she's not actually that good. Her world building is atrocious, I can find better world building in a Harry Potter AU fanfic!
Like and this isn't to say "it's fine for kids", kids should also get quality entertainment.

For the longest time I thought Apple watches were just really obnoxious...but I ended up getting a good deal on the new SE model so I bought it and I hate to say it but...I love this thing! And especially cause I work out so much - it's been so satisfying seeing my workout data in real time.

I love my garmin. Never thought I'd use it for exercise but here's little old me accepting challenges and getting a little buzz when I get a badge.
- I bought a Garmin vivoactive 4 a while back and I never wear it because the screen sucks as a normal watch :(
  I've been contemplating buying one of the newer watches because I saw them with their screens on at JB HiFi and they looked incredible. They were the Samsung ones I think. Just another toy to waste money on though. I should sell some stuff.
the real mvp is being able to ping your phone when you can't find it. You! Phone! Make noises so I can locate you!
I got an apple watch, just can't be bothered , I like to be as low tech as possible, like to keep the work for my brain simple and with few steps
so, it's a nice day and I'm going for a longish walk, I have no idea how many steps I'll be doing but walking in the mild sun is good, that much I know :) I do about 10 hours of walking a week, I might not be fast, I might not get puffed but it's better than driving
- Your watch will tell you how many you do. Before I'd walk everywhere without thinking too much about it. Now I walk with a bit of pace to get my heart rate up because after doing some research I found walking isn't really exercise, it's just living. If you set it up then trust me it will help you on your health journey.

I am frustrated by the fact I can get a BT adapter for my goddamn SNES - hell, I can get a bluetooth adapter for a fuggin RS232 serial connector! - but I cannot get a bluetooth to PS2 keyboard adapter. And I want one. Because I have a KVM that doesn't need replacing that runs most of my server gear and I also want this.

RS232 serial connector
Hooray I run that (but USB) for astro fotos legacy 4ever.
- I use the 8bitdo SNES for my retro gaming. God I love not having to worry about cable length. Also eyeing off a kitbash for the Atari 2600 but that's for after a pile of other things as my electronics workbench is still in many, many boxes... as is the atari lol

Diet day 4/70. Hunger is starting to be annoying. There's an afternoon tea/award thing in the calendar this afternoon. Thinking of just wagging it so I don't have to engage in self control.

hunger is a different thing to habit in food portion control though. Ideally you shouldn't be hungry, just beating off (heh) the urge to eat when you are not.
- While portion control is a thing I need to worry about somewhat, my problem is more that I haven't been tracking intake kilojoules in general. I know that the disipline of that task makes a massive difference to my weight. I run at lunchtime instead of eating a meal. However, I will snack on foods that are probably a bit dense in energy, but not in nutrition (chips, choccies etc). I've cut that all out and have brought in something healthier and nutritious instead to graze on.
  I also have a naughty tendency to raid the bikkie jar after 10pm. I've fought that one off by brushing teeth a bit earlier than normal. I actually find it easier to budget my kilojoules for the whole day ahead of time. Frankly, by 10pm I've been above 7,000kj each day already and can't afford any more.
  Separately but simultaneously, my sleeping petterns also need some work. I have also managed to get to bed before/around midnight each night (which is early for me). Still having a little trouble getting to sleep that early, though I did manage 0:17 last night, which was less than 30 minutes after I went to bed.

Shit that was lucky before - checked my email just before I went out to do some yard work and the legal documents the estate agent has been hanging out for had just arrived. phew

I think I might do the Angry Arthur thing for the "dress up like a meme party".

Time to go find a yellow jumper and blue jeans (yes I only wear black)

On first glance I thought you'd written Uncle Arthur.
Now we need Uncle Arthur memes... I'm sure Auntie Dawn would approve.
Maybe fake glasses and mouse ears?
- Oh no I forgot about the glasses. Might try and get one else skip it I guess

I have been sleepless and hayfevery the past two nights. Am about to put new sheets on the bed and have a hit shower and am extremely looking forward to tonights sleep

- Done and done

A bit less soil has been moved than I hoped, but I am ahead on the hard rubbish. The garden cart with the damaged tyres has already gone on to a new home, hopefully the rusty wheelbarrow will find a new place too. Not sure much else there would be useful to anyone, possibly the garden umbrellas.

and so it has come to pass that I have been gifted some tomato seedlings, cherished children of Italian colleague's nonna...

How do I, who can kill even a money plant, look after these babies?

Don’t overwater them is all I can say. Fungal infection killed mine many years ago. They’re heavy feeders (I think), like full sun and acidic soil. Get some trellis or stakes to tie them to for support or pots that have that built in.
Definitely hit up some guides because I’m not too experienced with tomatoes
- full sun I can do! cheers

Just saw a couple of silvereyes pecking at the grass in my backyard. I used to see them a lot in East Brunswick back in the 80s, but not since about 1990. I'm really glad to know that they're still around. Pecking grass is a bit of a new one, as they mostly like shrubby bushland and lots of cover. Must have been a good season for them, or they've moved in from elsewhere.

They are migratory, I used to have a flock come every year to eat at the fig tree, they are so pretty 😊

With a return of the sunny weather comes the return of digging. Hopefully a couple of days of not-too-hard work and I will get the rest of the soil moved, then I can focus on planting (and putting out hard rubbish). Next week looks like it might be a bit dreary so I can focus on some cooking for the freezer & preserving. Unfortunately I have to go back to work after that. ☹️

It's going to be interesting seeing the effects of the EV tax precedent on the wider transport sector. Especially as a lot of it is funded by "Access Fees".

For example is it still legal for V/Line to charge a fee for a freight train to use its network?

Breakfast 🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍈🫐🍓🍇🍉🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥥🥦🥑🫛🍆🍅🥝🥬🥒🌽🥕🥐🍠🫚🥔🧅🥯🍞🥖🥨🧀🧇🥞🧈🍳🥚🥓🥩🍗🍖🫓🍕🍟🍔🌭🥙🧆🌮🌯🥗🍲🍜🍝🥘🍛🍣🍱🥟🦪🍥🍘🍚🍙🐠🍤🪼🦀🐙 🍗🥮🍢🍡🍧🍰🧁🥧🍦🍨🎂🍮🍭🍬🍫🥜🌰🍪🍿🍯🥛☕️🍵🍺🍶🥤🧋🧃🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🧉🔋

Toasted sandwich with mushrooms, spinach and brie please
- 🍄🌽🧀🥪
  🔥
Same as Force_majeure122, plus a latte plz chef
- 🍄🌽🧀🥪
  🔥
  ☕️🥛
Got a busy day coming up, so something for energy please chef
- 🥓🍳🍳🥞🍯☕️🔋
Four Weet bix and a flat white.
- 🟫🟫🟫🟫☕️🥛

Shout it to the late teen/early 20 something doing the walk of shame at 6am this morning. I saw you but I doubt you saw my smirk so I just wanted you to know I was proud.

I have never understood why that is called the walk of shame and not the walk of triumph. Go you glorious late teen/early 20 something! Live your best life!
I’ll have you know it’s the stride of pride. 😂
- Not this kid. It was more of a stagger. dude looked like he'd been through the ringer.

Heading to Melbourne next week. Any good/big used books stores around? I can travel to where ever around the Melbourne area (staying near Greensborough for reference though)

The Robinsons bookshop in Greensborough Plaza is fairly decent. Not big, but a step up from those bullshit discount “books for less” shops.
- I love the aesthetic of Robinsons.
The Savers at Greensborough (near station) usually has a pretty good selection - I've found some gems there. Like a 1st edition of Modesitt's Fall of Angels. Salvos and Brotherhood and Vinnies also does 2nd hand books. Alice's in Rathdowne St Carlton is niche, and pretty exxy. The absolute best is Craddocks in Collins St in the city - huge range but exxy plus. Glorious shop though - worth a visit even if you don't buy.
- Alice's has closed
- Savers is still open there? That's a blast from the past.
I love the Book Grocer. They have cheap new, not popular books but they also have second hand books. Northcote would be the closest one to Greensborough.
- I'll check them out. Thanks.
I am a fan of the indie bookstores, so Robinson's and Readings. However, be warned that pretty much any book store will be super overpriced. I enjoy going to Dymocks but man, some books can almost cost as much or even more than a new release video game.

Ooh The Streets playing at Golden Plains next year! Really hoping for a sideshow seeing as all of my mates have gone off festivals D:

hmm flies come up from the sink?

dump a pile o' bicarb down there, follow it with a giant slosh of vinegar, jam the plugs in and hold them down so it all fizzles downwards then shittons of hot water
- thank you brb gonna get a plug (I somehow don't have one)
hmm not in normal circumstances. What kind of crazy experiments are you running?
- I obtained some samples during my trip last week
Generally that's when you call an exorcist.
- Can I just steal holy water from a nearby church
Drano is your friend here. Or bicarb with a vinegar chaser and lots & lots of hot hot hot water. The flies have been feeding on detritus down there. I got cutworm larvae coming up through the drain in my shower until I used Drano. For this, nasty chemicals are permitted I reckon.
- bicarb vinegar it is. Thank you.

Anyone been to New Caledonia for holiday? Is it worth checking out?

I've been but only for a few hours to the Isle of Pines (shore days on 2 cruises). It's quite pretty from what I saw of it. Worth it would depend on what you're looking to get out of it.
- Thank you!
A friend of mine has been twice in the last 2 years. He loves it.
- Ok thanks 👍

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