"Strong, like Angelina Jolie"

This, bizarrely, is how my colleagues Kayoko & Mary chose to describe me earlier today.

After a skeptically raised eyebrow (from me) and some hints from them on how to perfect my "Jolie-ness" (pout over my shoulder and get breast implants), I chose to take it as a compliment and move on with the day. Really, I can't think of many people I am less like than old Ange. Plus, I am fairly sure she isn't that "strong", though I wouldn't say that to her face.

In retrospect I was clearly having a foxy day. My erstwhile (temporarily) cooking buddy, Sam, dropped by on a break from rehearsing her new play and told me I was looking sexy, which I can only put down to looking knackered. I have no idea why, but apparently looking shattered works for me - I swear I have most often been chatted up/hit on whilst I, personally, think I look like crap warmed up. Ho hum. Good thing I was so stupendously sleep deprived at our civil union, I must have looked like a goddess.

OTHER NEWS - Gertie has kennel cough. Word on the street (ie Julia from dog day care) is that there is kennel cough outbreak sweeping through Wellington's canine population, though I am pretty sure G only has a mild dose so we haven't bothered to go to the vet for antibiotics. So far, it's just been a few wheezy hacks and some heavy sleeping.

The only other vaguely interesting thing that happened is getting bastard sunburn on the first sunny day for ages. Oh, and we've booked a week's holiday in Vanuatu next month.

Dull, huh?

You are feeling sleepy, very sleepy.

So, of course my seminar fell on the only sunny day we have had in Wellington for about 2 weeks. Even now the skies are grey and miserable, although at least the driving gale force winds and sheeting rain appear to have temporarily abated.

I didn't take the first seminar session, leaving me able to observe. I was suitably impressed that a couple of old blokes in the front row (and directly in front of the lecturer's podium/control centre) dozed off almost instantaneously. Apart from over-running a little, all seemed to go well. I even managed to rampage through Architecture, Art & Hieroglyphics in an hour, which has the huge advantage of leaving little or no time for questions. Genius.

Now nothing to do except keep my head down and get ready for the actual trip in January 2008. Think I might start justifying the purchase of an mp3 player with more memory for the trip.

But that was last week and this week is obviously not.

Having used the terrible weather as an excuse to flake out of running, along with Jo's enforced work-related absence in Auckland - if she is away I am responsible for all dog exercise (two walks a day) and Gert has more than convinced me of her dislike of jogging - the only moderately inclement conditions today meant that I got my backside into gear and actually went for a run for the first time in a couple of weeks. It was a sweaty red-faced affair, I was smirked at by a goth/arty/alternative type individual and succumbed to the pompous mindset of "well, at least I won't die of coronary heat disease, maybe, well, perhaps a couple of years later than if I don't jog". Ugh, I hate myself for that. Must be growing up if I am rejecting my instinctive super judgmentalism.

Yes, this week has mostly consisted of my voice being trashed from non-mumbling at the seminar, headaches and grumpiness that I consider to be directly related to the severe sleep deprivation caused by the bog-awful & incredibly noisy weather, mixed with a bit of scowling and bitching because Jo was on another business trip.

Oh well, it's almost Saturday and I may just go & watch "Downfall" on DVD now. If the player agrees.

for your information, David...

The answer is yes, no, maybe - whatever. I am channelling my inner Tori Spelling. Could be worse.

I am in recovery from my weekend seminar at the university, where I had to valiantly overcome my natural tendencies to mumble incoherently and PROJECT my voice so a lecture hall could actually hear my fascinating insights into Ancient Egyptian mythology & religion etc etc in 2 one and a bit hour sessions. Aside from accidentally switching all the lights off (I don't know how; something to do with their high falutin' touch sensitive control panel), I was convincing and quite enjoyed myself.

Though I have been informed by sources close to me that if I insist on making my amusing "jokes" during a lecture I might want to signpost them a bit. At least I didn't say "curse-ed" this time round.

Aside from that the only other news is that my DVD player refused to play "Downfall" (Christmas gift from mum - genius), but was quite happy with "Cagney & Lacey". Who knew?