October 2001

Short-cuts:

31 October - Fashionably Speaking
26 October - Houses
25 October - Toilet Humour
24 October - Study On
22 October - Fertile Writers Festivals
17 October - It's raining blood pressure machines
16 October - Worms and Bugs
15 October (2) - Not sure whether to laugh or cry
15 October - Bad start to the week
11 October - Feeling Ripped Off?
10 October - Ed and Our House
07 October - It's on - Australia's Biggest Car Race

Live Bathurst Updates
- Positions as at Lap 10
- Positions as at Lap 25
- Positions and race update as at Lap 29
- Positions as at Lap 55
- Positions as at Lap 62
- Race mid-point, positions as at Lap 80
- Positions as at Lap 127
- Top 20 Positions as at Lap 136
- Positions as at Lap 146
- Positions as at Lap 152
- Final Race Results

06 October - Festival of the Wheel
06 October - What a lovely wedding!
05 October - Ms Destiny's Sister is getting married tomorrow!
04 October - Failure
02 October - Missing Melbourne

Fashionably Speaking

A $12.95 day

Wednesday, 31 October 2001

I used to think that fashion was pretentious and vain. But recently I’ve been paying a little more attention to it. I’ve noticed that when I go to the effort of dressing nicely, or wearing something new, there is a marked difference in my mood. The way I feel about myself is improved.

Make up does nothing for me, but a nice outfit makes me feel a lot better about myself. This is probably because the gap between a daggy T-shirt and shorts and a fashionable dress is a wide one. It’s more noticeable.

Clothes, hair, make-up and your figure can have a huge affect on the way you feel. You are, after all, completely surrounded by them all day. I’m overweight and I’m continually apologising to the world for my existence. If I feel like I look normal (on a par with others), or good (even better than others), it does my self image a world of good.

I’m not vain, I don’t need to dress up like a model. But what I have realised is that I am emotionally fragile and vulnerable. If dressing up in nice clothes or buying the latest styles gets rid of that nagging “You’re not good enough” mantra, then it’s reason enough for me. On the basis of my recent psychological studies, I think that some behavioural psychologists would probably agree that it is a good way of improving mood and reducing depression.

Further, realising that fashion can be used as an emotional crutch, it makes me see the beautiful people in a whole new light. Instead of my old perception that these guys had it all together, I now see that they’re probably more fragile than the rest of us. The ones who dress in designer clothes 24/7 are the really needy ones. I guess they get hooked on the feeling after a while and need to keep up the look so they’ll feel OK.  

Web: destinationdigest.tripod.com
Mail: destinationdigest@lycos.com
About:  Mrs Destination
By the way, the contents of this site is © Mrs Destination 2001, Alright?

You're vaulting with Aussie pole vaulter, Dmitri Markov.

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Houses

Another $25.95 day

Friday, 26 October 2001

It's not true. I'm not procrastinating,... I just thought it would be interesting to check out some cool houses on the Tamawood site. You know Tamawood? They're the builders with the absolutely hideous ad.

My Dad is in the Building industry and he has been invited to their Christmas party a few times. They always have strippers there. My Dad's a Christian and at the time was a Church Elder. He had no idea they were going to have strippers. He left at that point in the proceedings. Needless to say he didn't accept future invites.

Looking at the Tamawood designs, I decided I like the idea of a 4 bedroom home or 3 + study, with a family room and a double garage. I don't really think an ensuite is essential, neither is a family room and a rumpus room, one or the other is fine but both seems excessive. I mean, if you've got a living room, a dining room, a meals area, a family room and a rumpus room,... sheesh, you'd need three TVs, two lounge suites and two dining suites!!! I have one of each.

My choice designs are the ones based in the $80,000-$90,000 price bracket and I'm a fan of the single story ones as I put my knee out on our stairs recently. I've typed the cheapest price because we like cheap. (:

• Berri $85,800

• Doomben $86,900

• Hawker $89,200

• Ironside $82,000 - Nice but what's with the main bathroom and ensuite being side by side?

• Leeward $79,300 - This only has 3 bedrooms, but it has a meals area, a dining area and a family room. Plenty of space...

• Lucas $78,500

• Rosegum $80,300 - This is all we would need, but I guess a bit more space would be nice.

• Stirling $85,800

• Troy $81,400

• Ulldulla $82,400

• Westlake $80,700

Designs and prices change every 30 days. I found that they all look practically identical from the front. All these designs lend themselves to the construction of a lovely patio off the back, usually coming out from the kitchen / family and/or main bedrooms. Nice.

The problem with building is, by the time you account for a decent piece of land, ie. 100-120k, plus 80k for a house,... well, you're outta my price range pal. Doh.

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Toilet Humour

A $25.95 day

Thursday, 25 October 2001

Sorry,... I've been a bit boring lately. I know I haven't had much interesting to say about life, the universe and everything. My brain is focused on coping with my imminent exams. I've also been doing a lot of writing. I'm working on my story and it's mentally tiring. The price? Your reading pleasure gets flushed down the toilet.

Speaking of being flushed down the toilet, I had this wonderful idea today. It's associated with Uni assignments,... Assignments are like a gastrointestinal infection. Your lecturer gives you a horrible bug at the beginning of semester. It gurgles around inside you for a while making you feel horrible and grumpy. Then, when it's had it's horrible way with you, you have to run to the bathroom in a moment of anguish. 

Afterwards you feel heaps better.

Once I start to get that feeling like the assignment's almost done, I want to get rid of the thing as soon as possible. I think Universities should have a big toilet instead of an assignment box. Students could lift the lid, throw their crappy assignments in and push flush. It would be symbolic. Maybe the flush button could be linked to a timestamp, thus creating a time saving device for my pals, Alli & Solvejg. (:

hehehehe.

We could then let the Academics and the Tutors dredge the sewers of our minds.

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Study on,...

A $50.00 Day

Wednesday, 24 October

Well, the cyst's gone and it's all systems go. My specialist put me on some mild blood pressure medication based on my history and last week's results. Welcome to Clomid cycle number 2. On the way out my doctor shook hands with me "to success". I was looking for the Champagne but it was nowhere to be found.

I'm just having a little study break so I thought I'd say G'day. Sorry I've been a bit quiet lately but as you know,... it's exam time.

There's a bit of stress floating around in my head about Uni. My marks in the past couple of assignments have been less than they could have been. I'm not happy about it so I'm hoping to improve somehow over the next week and a half.

Sorry, not much else to say! Except that I think people who can do the limbo are amazing. The way they can bend over backwards and arch their back and still balance is amazing. I wish I had a bit of that flexibility. [sigh] I used to be very flexible when I did ballet.

My final two comments?

• Vote Labour

• I'm thinking about changing my comments about boat people.

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Fertile Writers Festivals

A $1,000,000 Day

Sunday, 22 October

It's the eve of yet another specialist visit. Let's all hope that the cyst on my ovary is gone and that we can continue with fertility treatment.

It's two weeks until my first exam. I've been getting pretty crappy marks in my last few assignments. I'm concerned. If I don't post very often in the next month, please understand that it's not 'cause I don't love you. It's because I'm an anal retentive student and I want to get decent marks.

I went to the Brisbane Writers Festival on Friday. I know, I know... I hate those arty-farty festival type things too. The problem is,... they're useful. I need to go to them, if for nothing else but to learn a thing or to.

I sat in the presence of greatness on Friday. I was well and truly psyched by the work of some of the writers at the festival.

Knowing what suckful things writers festivals and writers groups can be, I went with some hesitation. I spent the entire week before the festival praying that it wouldn't suck. I asked God to make it a good day, instead of a horrible one as had been my previous experience. It took me until today to realise that my prayers were answered - but not in the way I expected them to.

On another topic, I went to the Dendy last week and saw a flick called "Purely Belter". On the way out I picked up a freebie movie magazine. Instead of stars, it rated movies on the basis of how much the reviewer would be prepared to pay to see it. For example, some movies were worth $13.50 or even more, but others were worth $0 - I'm trying to think of specific films but I can't,... it's been at least five days since then! Anyway, I think it is a superior system to the star rating. There's more scope. 

Today's a million dollar day because I had my prayers answered.

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It's raining blood pressure machines,.... Hallelujah!

**

Wednesday, 17 October

I confess. I prayed for rain. An early warning,... I also prayed for a wet summer. [Sorry!] Heaps of rain is needed to rehydrate the earth under our home and minimise some of the cracks. Purely selfish motives, however Queensland needs the rain too.

Today I visited a Hypertension nurse and purchased a blood pressure monitor. She trained me in how to take my own blood pressure. It's not as easy as it looks.

I got home and had a try at testing myself. I fluked getting the cuff on properly the first time and my first result was something like 135/88.

I tried to do another reading standing up, but I thought I would have another go at putting the cuff on. Well, it took about 3 or 4 minutes of wrestling,... It's not that easy to put a blood pressure cuff on one-handed! It has to be in a particular place facing a particular direction. In the end, when I finally got the second reading it was significantly higher, 140/95.

It was amazing for me to see how quickly my blood pressure can rise. It only took a minor frustration to push my reading up. That just about sums up my life too.

I left the cuff on my arm and laid down for 10 minutes. I took the next reading while lying there and it was lower, 131/81.

It is the second number that causes the doctors most concern. It's the one they monitor closely and the one they're concerned about with me. Anything over 85 is concerning.

I've got a pile of medical literature to read. Stay tuned for more medical mumbo-jumbo....

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Worms and Bugs

***

Tuesday, 16 October

I'm not usually one to get political,... but Channel 9's 'worm' has got me thinking. Laurie Oakes was surprised that Kim Beasley performed well in the debate with John Howard. This is the first positive glimpse I've seen in the election campaign.

For mine, it's not about John versus Kim, or John's team versus Kim's team,... it's about helping the little guy. John Howard was raving on Sunday night about Liberal's wonderful economic management. Yes, there is a budget surplus,... but in my opinion there shouldn't be much. Most of that money should be spent on the little guy [insert here kind and compassionate social policies versus economic cost-cutting policies].

Dare I suggest using some of the surplus to help refugees and boat people integrate into Australian life?

Yes, I know, why should we have to pay for that? Because it would be the kind and decent thing to do.

Labour's philosphy of helping out the workers, the students, the little guy means that money is spent on things that Liberals wouldn't bother to spend money on. This is painfully evidenced by their butchering of Centrelink and their withdrawal of education funding both at the level of students and University researchers, not to mention their sale of Telstra.

The  introduction of the GST was another act of rudeness. John Howard did not seriously consider the impact this would have on business in all sectors. A classic example is in public enterprise where all the paperwork is done for nothing. Why isn't there some exemption scheme rather than wasting taxpayers money on all this unnecessary administration? It is absolutely pointless! GST exempt organisations should just not be charged GST, rather than having to chase down tax-invoices for every frikkin' taxi fare.

Sheesh, the number of arguments I had with people over tax invoices! Unbelievable.

I agree that something had to be done in relation to tax reform,... but I think that now it's here the GST needs a fresh set of eyes to give it a good debugging.

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Not sure whether to laugh or cry

*

Monday, 15 October (Part 2)

I was surfing today, looking for some links for my new "About the Author" page. I decided to see if I could grab a good Christian link to attach to my "Religion of Choice" line, when I came across www.jesus.com.

Some sad sap has decided to use Jesus' cool reputation to pick up chicks. Yes, it's like the worst "man seeks woman" ad I have ever seen. I'm not sure whether to be hideously appalled or amused.

[sigh]

You can go and bathe with Jesus, or shower with Jesus - the only condition is that you have to allow your photo to be published on this try-hard's web-site. Jesus even does product endorsements.

If I didn't know better, I'd think that Trey Parker and Matt Stone were behind it.

I feel sorry for the real Jesus having his reputation dragged through the mud like this. I wonder how much hate mail this guy gets - probably none, because Jesus told us to love our neighbour.

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Bad start to the week

*

Monday, 15 October

I'm having a bad start to the week. While trying to be positive on the outside, all my childish heart wants to do is go and hide under a doona.

I've been trying to sort out something with our insurers and a smash repairer down the road. Yes, I side-swiped a pole a couple of weeks ago. Very silly, I know. It was an accident, a very expensive, very annoying, very inconvenient accident. Remind me not to drive into poles, OK? Thanks.

So anyway, I should be studying my ass off, but I'm too bitter and twisted to concentrate.

Argh.

What I really need is a tonne of chocolate / crisps / comfort food,... but I'm trying not to eat comfort food. I've been clinging desperately to a scripture that says that the Holy Spirit is a comforter,... at least in the King James version it says that. Newer versions say 'counsellor', but I need a comforter so I'm clinging to the old version. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to cling,...

John 14:26*
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send * in my name, he shall teach * you all things, and bring * all things to * your remembrance * , whatsoever I have said * unto you.
* The links will take you to the Strong's Concordance translations of each word in this scripture. Pretty groovy huh?

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Feeling Ripped Off?

*

Thursday, 11 October

• If you bought $1000 worth of Ansett stock one year ago, it would be worth $49 today.  If you bought $1000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, and traded in the cans for the deposit, you would have $79 today. 
  
  

• If you bought my house five years ago, and then tried to sell it now, you'd be lucky to get what you paid for it.
  
  

• If you watched Ed last night expecting Ed and Carol to get together, you would have encountered a horrible cliff-hanger ending. You'll have to wait for next season to find out what happens.

I feel very ripped off today. I think I'll go and buy a tonne of chocolate.

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Ed and Our House

***

Wednesday, 10 October

The series final of Ed is on tonight. I can't quite bring myself to read Uncle Bob's recap at Mighty Big TV. I think I'll wait until after I've watched the show. According to the ads, Ed and Carol Vessey finally get together. One has to wonder what will happen to the next series if they get together now. Sheesh.

I can hardly wait.

But on to more important things. I had a real estate around this week to appraise our home. I'm still waiting for his call - he promised me he'd call this morning.

Mr Destination and I are a bit (ie. a lot) frustrated with the cracks in our home, they seem to be getting worse. The fact that we have to look at them everyday makes it worse. So, we thought we'd get a valuation on our home and if it's not too appalling we'll sell.

The thought of redecorating and concealing all the cracks is too daunting for us. It's a big job and neither of us really has the time to do it ourselves, however it would be hard to justify getting a tradesman to do it.

It all makes me a bit depressed, however everything I read in the Bible this week is about contentness. I've read plenty about the Apostle Paul's 'learning to be content in all things',.... it makes me wonder what God's trying to tell me. Does he want me to be content here? In this cracked home?

I always wonder if our house was built on the sand? It's another scriptural thing and it kinda psychs me out 'cause the house that was built on the sand fell down. [sigh]

Don't fall down, house. At least not with anyone inside!

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It's on - Australia's Biggest Car Race!

*****

Sunday, 7 October

Russell Ingall started from position three on the grid, but something went wrong and his car did not move when the lights went out. He was lucky not to get hit by other cars thundering down the grid. Seton had a good start, however Bright had a better start and quickly took second position. Radisich had a quick start and slotted into third with Skaife on his tail.

Skaife drove like a man possessed on the first lap and was soon into second position. Seton was able to hold him off for a lap or two.

Top Ten Positions as at lap 10 at approximately 10:30am are:

1. Skaife / Longhurst
2. Bright / Mezera
3. Bowe / Wills
4. Kelly / Murphy
5. Seton / Richards
6. Perkins / Ingall
7. Johnson / Radisich
8. Tander / Bargwana
9. Ellery / Brabham
10.Weel / Leahey

It is worth noting that Craig Lowndes is knocking on the door of the top 10 in position 11.

Top 10 positions as at lap 25 at approximately 11:00am:

1. Bowe / Wills
2. Kelly / Murphy
3. Skaife / Longhurst
4. Perkins / Ingall
5. Bright / Mezera
6. Ellery / Brabham
7. Johnson / Radisich
8. Lowndes / Crompton
9. Weel / Leahey
10.Tander / Bargwanna

The Bureau of Meteorology says that rain showers will occur at about 11:15am.

Top 10 positions as at lap 29 at approximately 11:35am are:

1. Kelly / Murphy
2. Skaife / Longhurst
3. Johnson / Radisich
4. Ellery / Brabham
5. Bowe / Wills
6. Weel / Leahey
7. Seton / Richards
8. Richards / Fogg
9. Bright / Mezera
10.Tander / Bargwanna

• It's 11:35am and hailing on top of the mountain.
  
  

• Safety car conditions prompted the first round of pits stops and caused grief for plenty of teams.
  
  

• Race leader John Bowe overstepped his pit by 3 to 4 lengths required his crew to push the car back into position.
  
  Bowe said "I feel like an absolute idiot. I probably look like one too".
  
  

• Craig Lowndes made a stong passing manouvre on Paul Radisich pushing him wide onto the grass. Radisich did well to keep his nose out of the wall. The move gained two positions for Lowndes.
  
  Only moments later, while Lowndes was overtaking a backmarker he made contact and damaged his front spoiler. This proved costly in the pits when the team took valuable time wrestling to remove the damaged spoiler. Lowndes was undestandably disappointed. The backmarker, the Noske / Baird Budweiser entry, is out of the race.
  
  

• Green flags returned and four cars were seriously damaged in the restart. The Wyhoon / Salmon entry grazed the wall causing the Faulkner / Doulman to take evasive action.
  
  The Holden Young Lions Romano / Kelly entry collided and became the gourmet filling in a Faulker / Doulman and Richards / Canto sandwich.

Top 10 positions as at lap 55 at approximately 12:20pm are:

1. Kelly / Murphy
2. Skaife / Longhurst
3. Johnson / Radisich
4. Seton / Richards
5. Richards / Fogg
6. Ellery / Brabham
7. Tratt / Jones
8. Tander / Bargwanna
9. Perkins / Ingall
10.Bowe / Wills

• Thomas Mezera has received a stop / go penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
  

• Rain continues to threaten race conditions.

Top 10 positions as at lap 62 (under safety car conditions) at approximately 12:50pm are:

1. Perkins / Ingall
2. Seton / Richards
3. Richards / Fogg
4. Kelly / Murphy
5. Skaife / Longhurst
6. Johnson / Radisich
7. McLean / Ritter
8. Ellery / Brabham
9. Tander / Barwanna
10.Bright / Mezera

• These positions are under safety car conditions and will change when the series of pit stops end.
  
  

• Brake pad and driver changes have begun to happen with teams trying to use the safety car period to their advantage.
  
  

• The Ingall / Perkins team had a slow pit stop at the end of the safety car period putting them at the end of the queue. This is the second time they've made this kind of strategic blunder today.
  
  

• The Johnson / Radisich entry has just suffered an engine failure at Hell's corner. They have retired.

Race Mid-Point - Top 15 cars at Lap 80 as at approximately 1:35pm:

1. Lowndes / Crompton
2. Kelly / Murphy
3. Skaife / Longhurst
4. Richards / Fogg
5. Perkins / Ingall
6. Richards / Canto
7. Bright / Mezera
8. Seton / Richards
9. Tander / Bargwanna
10.Ellery / Brabham
11.Larkham / Gardner
12.McLean / Ritter
13.Morris / Stichbury
14.Macrow / Youlden
15.McConville / Bates

• There is a sprinkling of rain over parts of the track and most of the teams on the lead lap have changed to wet tyres.
  
  

• Skaife, Murphy and Lowndes have stayed out on dry tyres which has improved their track position.
  
  

• The combination of sun and rain has caused steam to rise off a hot track. Lowndes has taken an inside move on Murphy and Skaife.
  
  

• Under these wet conditions the wet weather tyres are proving quicker than the top three, so things could change suddenly.
  
  

• More and heavier rain is forecast.

Top 10 cars at Lap 127 as at approximately 3:35pm:

1. Kelly / Murphy
2. Perkins / Ingall
3. Seton / Richards
4. McLean / Ritter
5. Car 12?
6. Bright / Mezera
7. Richards / Fogg
8. Ellery / Brabham
9. Macrow / Youlden
10.Tander / Bargwanna

• Safety cars have quietened things a little. No-one has been able to make a substantial lead.
  
  

• The lead changed 15 times in the first 112 laps.
  
  

• Just after I took note of the top 10 positions the top three were involved in a battle for the lead  in the chase. Hail in that section of the track made conditions slippery with all three cars losing traction. Kelly and Seton ended up off the road and Perkins held it together to take the lead. Only seconds later he hit a tyre barrier on the way into the pits.
  
  

• The Perkins incident triggered another set of pace car conditions. The final round of pits stops is occurring as I write and it will now be a mad sprint race to the line.

Top 20 positions as at Lap 136 at approximately 4:10pm:

1. Skaife / Longhurst
2. McLean / Ritter
3. Jones / Cleland
4. Richards / Canto
5. Ellery / Brabham
6. Seton / Richards
7. Perkins / Ingall
8. Kelly / Murphy
9. Tander / Bargwanna
10.Morris / Stichbury
11.McConville / Bates
12.Reed / Ashby
13.Romano / Kelly
14.Pretty / Kelly
15.Tratt / Jones
16.Richards / Fogg
17.Lowndes / Crompton
18.Heath / Brede
19.Weel / Leahey
20.Bright / Mezera

Top 10 positions as at lap 146 at approximately 4:30pm:

1. Skaife / Longhurst
2. Jones / Cleland
3. McLean / Ritter
4. Kelly / Murphy
5. Macrow / Youlden
6. Ellery / Brabham
7. Tander / Bargwanna
8. Perkins / Ingall
9. Seton / Richards
10.McConville / Bates

• This is tight sprint racing to the finish line. Skaife / Longhurst looks strong but Jones / Cleland and McLean / Ritter aren't giving him much space. Anything could happen in this last 15 laps.

Top 10 Positions at at Lap 152 at approximately 4:40pm:

1. Skaife / Longhurst
2. Jones / Cleland
3. Kelly / Murphy
4. McLean / Ritter
5. Richards / Canto
6. Tander / Bargwanna
7. Ellery / Brabham
8. Perkins / Ingall
9. Seton / Richards
10.McConville / Bates

• Fuel capacity will be a big issue for Mark Skaife and the Holden Racing Team. They think they will have enough fuel to go half a lap past the end of the race. Skaife will be short-shifting in the last ten laps.
  
  

• Apparently Tony Longhurst, Skaife's co-driver went down to the OzEmail pit to try and come up with a fuel consumption deal with their team. The deal is if Brad Jones eases off, Skaife will ease off. OzEmail said "No Way!"
  
  A fairly astute Channel 10 commentator said it could have been just a Holden ploy to see how much extra fuel the OzEmail team has. They said that they have two laps worth of fuel in reserve.
  
  It will be a close call.

Final Race Results for the V8 Supercar 1000, Mt Panorama, Bathurst, October 4 - 7 2001:

1. Skaife / Longhurst
2. Jones / Cleland
3. Kelly / Murphy
4. McLean / Ritter
5. Richards / Canto
6. Tander / Bargwanna
7. Ellery / Brabham
8. Perkins / Ingall
9. Seton / Richards
10.McConville / Bates
11.Reed / Ashby
12.Morris / Stichbury
13.Romano / Kelly
14.Pretty / Kelly
15.Tratt / Jones
16.Richards / Fogg
17.Lowndes / Crompton
18.Heath / Brede
19.Weel / Leahey
**All other competitors retired.

Expert Commentator Barry Sheene said it was a "Falcon unbelievable" race.

Thanks for checking out the final results and real-time updates here with your online Bathurst pit crew. We rawk. (:

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Festival of the Wheel

*****

Saturday, 6 October

If last weekend was Roy and HG's festival of the boot, then this weekend is my festival of the wheel. Welcome to Bathurst weekend. Rnnn. Rnnn. Rnnnnnnnn.

The people in our house are going for the L.Perkins/R.Ingall (Holden) combination,... our second preference is S.Johnson/P.Radisich (Ford). As you can see we don't have an allegiance to Holden or Ford - we drive a Suzuki. (I know, I'm sorry.)

This sexy link should take you straight to the latest results. Check it out, be informed and BARRACK FOR THE RIGHT TEAM!!!! Essendon Supporters - This is your chance to redeem yourself.

Secretly, I also harbour hopes of seeing Ms Leanne Ferrier on the podium. I'm all for girl power and for seeing a chick up on the podium. Go Leanne!!!!!!! Realistically though, I don't like her chances.

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What a lovely wedding!

*****

Saturday, 6 October

Ms Destiny's Sister is no longer a Miss,... she's a Mrs. Congratulations Darling! It was a lovely wedding. I was very proud of you.

Ms Destiny's Sister was married in the Rotunda at Newstead House on a perfect Brisbane Saturday morning. The sun shined, a beautiful breeze came off the water and the Bride was radiant. It was a beautiful Christian wedding and the Bride carried a Bible and a rose. The first married act the couple did was to take communion.

I've seen the communion thing at a few weddings now and it makes me wish we did it. Why didn't I think of that? On the other hand, our wedding had the most beautiful music. Sherry and Julian Smith sang / played piano at our wedding. Sherry has a voice like an angel, while Julian has the voice of a rock legend. I asked Julian to tinker on the grand piano during the reception and our friend, Phil, asked him if he knew any Oasis. Next thing I know, I'm hearing Wonderwall played on a grand piano. That is surely one of the highlights when I remember my wedding day. My only regret is not getting a photo of Mr Destination and I sitting at that gorgeous  piano. [sigh]

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Ms Destiny's Sister is getting married tomorrow!

*****

Friday, 5 October

Before you all go into a panic wondering who Ms Destiny's Sister is, that is an alias for my friend who's getting married tomorrow. This is her story,...

I met Ms Destiny's Sister about 7 years ago. She came to our church one Sunday morning after being kicked out of every other church she'd attended in Brisbane. Ms Destiny's Sister was schizophrenic and some might add, demon possessed. She would scream through our church services. Some thought it was the demons manifesting. Either way, it was pretty uncomfortable.

I come from a Christian background, so I believe that Jesus Christ can heal any disease, any illness, and any heartache. My parents, who are full of faith, decided we should go and sit with this girl and see if we could help. We went up to the second row where she was sitting alone, and somehow I ended up being the one directly beside her.

I said "Hello, I'm Destination" and she said "Hello" in a voice that sounded like a robot. She stared straight into my eyes, and bored what felt like holes right through my head. It appeared that she was staring straight through me. She had saliva dribbling down the edge of her mouth. I wasn't sure what to say next, it was all a bit scary. But I know that when she spoke to me, I wished she were well, I wished that she could hold down a conversation.

In the following few months, Ms Destiny's Sister became like a part of our family. Mum invited her over for tea pretty often and we got to know her. We knew that she wasn't taking her medication regularly, but we also knew that she couldn't. She didn't seem to have it all together enough to take it when and how she was meant to. She had an orange BMW which she was afraid to drive - she'd come over by bus instead. She soon ended up in a psychiatric hospital.

I am ashamed to say that I never visited her there. I think the thought of it was too much for me. There were people from our church, one in particular whose father had schizophrenia, who visited Ms Destiny's Sister all the time. I guess they knew what it would be like and could cope with it.

I can't tell you exactly when her voice and eyes softened and she started to appear more 'normal'. But I definitely remember one day, sitting on the side of the Newfarm River with her. Mr Destination and I were engaged, and she said to me, "One day I'll find a beautiful man of my own, and I'll have a job and everything will be great."

That was seven years ago. In the subsequent years, she has been the subject of much prayer and much deliverance. I would go so far as to say she is 100% well now. My psych text says that schizophrenia is incurable, but I would argue with that.

In the past few years she's been studying. She got her first job as a kitchen-hand about a year ago. And, tomorrow, after a long drawn-out on-again off-again engagement, my Dad will be giving her away.

Yeah, Ms Destiny's Sister is getting married. Isn't that magnificent?

PS: Oh, I should mention that yesterday's massage did not go according to plan. For some reason it hurt a million times more than the first massage. I'm now very sore and making good use of a heat pack. Bummer, dude.

Psych Hospital,...
There were days in my old job at King Gee where I thought "That's it, I've had it, I'm booking myself into Ms Destiny's Sisters hospital. I can't cope any more".

I'm glad to say that work improved when I left King Gee and got a job at Queensland Transport. It got even better at Monash University - but that was more because of the people I was working with. (:

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Failure

**

Thursday, 4 October

Do you ever feel like a complete failure? I do. I'm not sure if I'm a complete failure, or whether I'm just a very pessimistic person. I get criticised and then I take it too far. Criticism becomes like a death sentence.

It could also be my tendency to exaggerate bad things and deflate good things. There must be something seriously wrong with me - I must get back to that Psych text book to work it all out.

Well,... wasn't it good to see the Big Brother gang back together again! Christina Ballerina (aka Christina Davis) is still as gorgeous as ever. I loved her cute outfit and her hair was seriously excellent. She's still my favourite by a long way. It's funny how some of the personalities have changed since they've been out of the house. Pete seems less confident,... but a lot of the others seem more so. Anita seems a little bit nicer, as does Sharna. Sarah Marie definitely seems less sane,... not that she appeared very sane in the house, but anyway,...

[sigh]

I'm off to Wilston Physiotherapy for a massage today. My head's been aching all week. It's got a bit to do with stress and a bit to do with posture. Ironically, I get a headache from sticking my chin up.

That'll be my pessimistic attitude,... even when I put my chin up, things don't go right.

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Missing Melbourne

-*

Tuesday, 2 October

I don't feel like writing much today. I've had a migraine for the past 24 hours and it's driving me up the wall. I finally managed to get some Mersyndol about two hours ago and I'm just waiting for them to 'kick-in'.

I got the latest Astor calendar in the mail today. It made me 'Melbourne-sick' again. That, and a lovely e-mail from Alli just makes me want to jump in my car and drive down there. I also want to listen to Paul Kelly sing about St Kilda Esplanade.

[sings]

"I'd give you all of Sydney Harbour,
all that land and all that water, 
for that one sweet promenade."

I miss you, guys.

My absolute favourite Paul Kelly song of all time is called "How to make gravy". It's a song about a guy in jail. He usually makes the gravy for his family on Christmas day, but this year he won't be there to make it. He dreams about making the Christmas gravy when he's on the outside. He tells his family how to make the gravy, and asks a friend to hug his kids for him.

"Who's gonna make the gravy now? I bet it won't taste the same,... Give my love to Angus,... and Roger, I'm even gonna miss Roger, 'cause there's sure no-one here that I want to fight,..."

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DAILY RATINGS:

***** Oh my God! Can such a day as this ever happen again?
**** I'm so happy I could,...
*** 3 stars, slightly above half way, you figure it out.
** Ho-Hum.
* Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

DESTINATION DICTIONARY:

BTW = By the way
Intro par = Introductory Paragraph
PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Sarnie = Sandwich