Ten thoughts of Today

 I'm finally starting to get better. After four full days on the couch, either hacking up a lung or feeling so awful I've been reduced to watching old episodes of Friends, finally, I'm starting to perk up a bit. 

I'm grateful to friends who drop the odd thing off to me. Jay came around this afternoon with some dry ginger ale - my drink of choice when I'm poorly. She tells me I've got COVID. The five tests I've done over the week say otherwise, but I'll let her think that. I have been flattened by this, but I'm also responding well to the antibiotics. 

Anyway, here's ten thoughts from today, which has been spent mostly on the couch . 

1) Having no appetite is a great thing, but you do have to push down a bit of food, even if it is to take medicine with. 

2) No matter how bad you feel, parcels will need to be delivered at 8.30 in the morning, to be collected from the front gate with you wearing you Elmo pyjamas. 

3) Neighbours will witness you wearing said Elmo pyjamas - it doesn't matter that you're 55-years-old. Elmo rocks. 

4) Friends hasn't aged that well. 

5) I don't mind the changes they've made in the Lessons in Chemistry series, versus the Lessons in Chemistry book. I love that an episode drops once a week. It's actually a very cool series - the changes are fine. Bree Larson is awesome. 

6) Being sick, my cat, Lucifer, has been looking after me. Well, he's been sitting on my work chair making sure I don't sit in front of a computer for too long. I can't sit in front of a computer for hours at a time, but it's nice to know he's looking out for me. 

7)  Murphy's Law states that the hot water will go to sleep just as you're wanting to get the conditioner out of your hair. Doubly so when you're needing a hot shower. Thankfully, the hot water is working again. 

8) NaNoWriMo guilt is real. I signed up to do the annual National Novel Writing Month competition, but I've been too sick to write anything. Phlegm has a great way of stripping any creativity from your bones. 

9) Lychee Oolong with Aloe pearls Bubble tea from Gong Cha is a great rehydrator and you can't make me change my mind. That dude should to a tic-toc about it. Best bubble teas.

10) The cat gets snarky when he's not allowed to sit on 'his' chair. I think he's telling me to get back on the couch. 

Today's song: 

Over It

 Chest infection. Ear infection. Antibiotics. Lots of fluids. Four hourly panadol. Ventolin.  Not leaving the couch. The cat is sitting on my office chair keeping watch. 

A temperature of 38 degrees is fun. 

I ache from head to foot. 

This is the end of day three. 

I'm officially over it. 

It feels like the antibiotics are starting to work. which is good., 

But as as contractor, you only take days off if you are at death's door. 

Four days off this week. 

Not happy about it, but at least I'm turning the corner. 

But frankly, I'm just over it. 

Today's song: 

It Came

 Look what came in the mail today!

It's only taken three weeks. 

And it's not even for me. 

See:

I've got a good relationship with my postie, Dazz. Of course I'm going to send him a post card. 

So hopefully he was on duty when this got dropped off today. 

I'm quite proud of myself. I remembered to call Australia the French AUSTRALIE. Put Australia and it might end up in Austrial - then again, in French, Austria is L'Autriche. It's a bit different., Not like how Myponga gets all of Mypolonga's mail at the post office, and vice versa. I'm sure that's still happening. 

It's in my doctorish scrawl. 

It's got the non-descript French stamps on it, which I asked for in my best French at a post office near the Pompidou Centre. 

The card has a picture of the Eiffel Tower, which I didn't see lit up like that. I was there on a sunny day. I would have liked to see more of it, but we were having a picnic, and then we were heading to the Richelieu Library. It's just the way the day turned out. 

I've been up the tower, only to the second level. I'd like to go back.

I'll have to make it happen. 

Today's song: 

Hallowont

 Sorry, I don't get Halloween - not in the American sense of the day. I don't get why people get all dressed up, do their houses up with pumpkins and skeletons and cobwebs and make a big to do of it. 

I do understand All Hallows Eve, the day in which the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. I get All Souls Day and Dios di Muertos - or the day of the dead, which follows All Hallows Eve. I rather like the thought of the Day of the Dead, as its celebrated in Middle and South America. It Looks great fun. 

But I still don't and will never get Halloween. Particularly in Australia. Maybe it's because if it was ever brought up with my parents it was shouted down as American crap. I have friends who spent some of their childhood in America and they see it as one of the best days of the year. 

In my suburb, there is a house around the corner owned by goths. They've lovely people. I've often had a chat with the family on the way home from work. They just have a different aesthetic to most and live the lifestyle every day of the year, up to the gargoyles on top of their roof. I'll let them do Halloween. It makes them happy. 

But for the rest of the population, I still don't get it. Driving through the suburb at 5 pm this evening, I watched as perplexed forty-somethings took their young children out trick or treating. I'm not sure what the rules are. Do you and your costumed progeny approach only the decorated house, or chance your arm at any place? What do they do with the older kids - can they go without parents? Isn't this just another excuse for kids to muck up.

I don't get Halloween. It's never been a part of my zeitgeist. I don't think I'll ever understand it. 

Today's song: 

Allergic/Sick

 Last night I went to Blarney's place and they fed me dinner. It looked like a nice dinner. Fried rice and chicken. Yum. 

I had about two bites, before my nose started running and my chest began to heave. 

This is the second time this has happened to me - the last time it was just before I went away, Barney was cooking a curry and I ended up hawking a lung.

So here I am thinking that I may have become allergic to chilli - as that is the only thing in common with what was cooking a few weeks ago and last night. It was a near instant 

The coughing abated after an hour. 

But I woke up this morning with an aching chest. I was a few hours into the day and I had to go buy some ventolin. The one I had on me had expired.

Over the day, I was feeling ropier. By 5 p.m.I was on the couch, trying to get up. 

I've fortified myself with panadol and ventolin. 

The covid test came back negative, but I'll test again in the morning. If I'm still feeling crap in the morning I'll make a doctor's appointment. 

Being sick sucks. 

Off to bed now.

Today's song: 

Movie Review: Dumb Money

 Movie Number 35 of 2023

The Movie: Dumb Money

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: 4

File this one under "based on a true story", "awesome cast" and "killer soundtrack", all elements of an entertaining film. This one came my way as a Saturday night diversion, and I was thoroughly entertained throughout. I also loved the stick it to the big man storyline, which was engrossing as it was laugh out loud funny at times. 

So, what's it about? Dumb money is the term that the big end of town use to describe Mum and Dad investors. Where the hedge funds and stockbrokers are used to dealing with multi-million-dollar trades. Where the big end of town can crash a stock if they want, the ordinary investor normally has no say. 

Until 2020, when a small-scale investor, who publishes his positions on Reddit, starts a run on GameStop stock. 

RottenTomatoes.com describes the film as, "... is the ultimate David vs. Goliath tale, based on the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop (yes, the mall videogame store) into the world's hottest company. In the middle of everything is regular guy Keith Gill (Paul Dano), who starts it all by sinking his life savings into the stock and posting about it. When his social posts start blowing up, so does his life and the lives of everyone following him. As a stock tip becomes a movement, everyone gets rich - until the billionaires fight back, and both sides find their worlds turned upside down."

What I loved about this was you got to see both ends of town. The multi-millionaire Hedge fund guys (Nick Offerman, Seth Rogan and Sebastian Stan) fighting to keep their heads above water, while the little guys, battling away at the bottom, who are just looking to make life a bit easier. Keith Gill (Paul Dano) who leads this merry band on their way with his stock tip. His wife, Caroline (Shailene Woodley) is supportive, but incredulous as to what a group of people can do, given the will and a sense of humour. 

There are the slackers, Keith's brother, (Pete Davidson) the kid who works at GameStop (Anthony Ramos), the nurse (America Ferrera) and the debt-ridden students (Myha'la Herrold and Talia Ryder), all having their reasons for wanting to get into the stock market and stay there. 

I have to say, I loved this movie. Not only was it a case of David beating Goliath, but it was great fun. The normal people, the family dynamics, the money-men finally being got by the balls. You end up cheering in your seat. 

Craig Gillespie, whose direction is responsible for movies like Cruella, I, Tonya and the indie sleeper Lars and the Real Girl keeps the movie going at a pace which keeps your interest, while explaining the market in a way laymen can understand. 

The soundtrack is also fantastic, with bangers from Cardi B, Mark Batson and the White Stripes keeping things upbeat. 

Nobody is going to see this, but it's definitely worth a look if you're after a laugh. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: LEP Autumn

 It's Saturday night and I have stuff to do. The jet lag has finally abated and I am feeling much better about things. Jet lag plays with your head. It's insidious. 

Anyway, I'm going to get the Sunday questions out of the way early so I can enjoy the weekend. It's a nice weekend - a bit windy, but that is Spring in Melbourne. 

Questions, as always, come from Bev at Sunday Stealing. 

1 Do you decorate for Autumn?

No. Why would I do that? It's never been on my radar. Oh, and if you mean for Halloween, I'm Australian, Halloween isn't as big a thing as it is in America. 

2. How often do you clean out your closets?

It's an ongoing concern. I move things on pretty regularly, but things then take their place. 

3. When is the last time you planned a surprise for someone?

I can't remember. I put some records in the mail for some friends in France the other day. They might be surprised to receive them. Not everybody is into surprises. 

4. Are there foods you really don’t like?

Bananas. Slimy, fickle things that they are. I don't mind banana lollies, and bananas in pancakes in Bali are fine, but that is about it. I avoid them. Most other fruit is fine. 

5. What is something you recently learned?

I'm a lot more confident when I'm speaking in French. It's strange, but I feel strangely powerful. 

6. Items you’re most likely to buy at a convenience store.

Things I buy at the local 7/11 (which is a chain convenience store over here)

• Ice cream
• Potato chips
• A pre-made sandwich
• Ice cream
• Refills for my soda water pump (Soda stream)
• Petrol (gas - as most 7/11s are also petrol/gas stations).

7. Do you believe in the paranormal?

Paranormal is in ghosts - yes - I'm good with that, Much more than that and I'll leave it. Ghosts are about, but they don't do much most of the time, thank goodness. 

8. How would you describe your spirituality?

I am spiritual, but not religious. I have no religious affiliations, but I do believe in a big G God. I read tarot. I feel energies, and work with them in a healing practice. I'm comfortable with that - it doesn't affect anybody else. 

9. Do you make plans far in advance?

Depends on what plans. Holidays, I plan far in advance normally, otherwise, I plan a week or so out, and leave it at that. My calendar books out pretty quickly. 

10. Do you like being scared for fun?

Not really. I'm not into horror films or anything like that. A mild thriller is about as far as I go. 

11. What has been difficult for you lately?

I'm really lucky as things have been pretty smooth of late. Long may that remain. Work has had its challenges, but that is the nature of work. There were a few hiccoughs on holiday, but they were just that - small bumps. I find that life is often a matter of how you look at things. 

12. Have you ever written or read fanfiction?

I have read some fanfiction, but never felt the need to write it. It makes those who write fanfiction very happy, and that is good for them. It's all reading and writing and this is a good thing. 

13. What type of wall art do you have in your home?

I have some posters and water colours on the wall, plus a few trinkets from my travels. That will do. 

14. Are you more likely to be private or overshare?

Despite the fact that a bit comes out about me in this blog, I am still pretty private. I've got strict boundaries that I adhere to. 

15. What have you recently learned to live without?

A life in Europe. Going back there has made me mourn it all the more. I loved living in London and I felt right at home in France. It's got me thinking. 

Today's song: