september 29, 2003
honey
today i am crazy about honey on toast (no butter, and the bread must be b.d. pane di casa).
pete h. was telling me about matisse bread which has the BEST baguettes available in adelaide. like the baguettes in paris apparently. i'm going to have to give them a try.
yum.
a leigh st*r dust / hello minnesota song is whirling around my head. it's about honey.
i am hoping that the honey will help ease the hayfever that has settled into my head over the last week.
pipstar @ 03:08 PM | link | Comments:
september 29, 2003
vicarious life
while i was travelling last year, i decided that anna karenina was my favourite book.
yesterday i finished reading cloudstreet by tim winton. i cried at the end, and laughed the entire way through. it hasn't beaten anna k, but it definitely sits higher than war and peace (which is in the top ten for sure... it can't be in the top five as i'm unlikely to ever want to read it again).
go read it.
pipstar @ 12:15 AM | link | Comments:
september 24, 2003
the band
codename: the october manifesto have actually finished writing an entire song! it's a story of love gone wrong, protesting for what you believe to be right and contains what we consider to be a moderately catchy chorus.
want to hear it? you'll just have to wait until we write enough songs / learn how to play other people's and have an actual gig.
pipstar @ 11:43 PM | link | Comments:
september 24, 2003
silver bangle
it looks like the final week of the jewellery course will be spent making earrings and pendants with the left over silver and polishing up the pieces that are complete apart from being super shiny.
pipstar @ 11:07 PM | link | Comments: *
september 23, 2003
swinging is the new yoga
i may not have been to yoga for months, but in the last couple of days i have done some serious swinging.
on saturday the weather was perfect. when i walked back from having coffee with aidan i stopped in the park and swinged and swanged and swung. i reached the conclusion that swinging was fun, but it would be better with silky smooth legs and painted toenails.
so i primped and preened and dyed my hair.
the next day when i went on the swings i took my camera and got a few photos to record the fun that is playing on swings.
pipstar @ 01:45 AM | link | Comments:
september 22, 2003
play some d
the spring[ish] design of battlecat is partially uploaded.
give me a couple of days and hopefully the bugs will be cleaned up.
pipstar @ 02:15 AM | link | Comments: ***
september 22, 2003
swing #1
pipstar @ 12:28 AM | link | Comments:
september 22, 2003
swing #2
pipstar @ 12:27 AM | link | Comments:
september 22, 2003
swing #3
pipstar @ 12:26 AM | link | Comments:
september 22, 2003
swing #4
pipstar @ 12:24 AM | link | Comments:
september 19, 2003
whoops
I suppose that if I felt motivated, I'll be able to complete the liSP prac and resubmit into the late submission folder. Unfortunately I didn't realise that 3pm was the cutoff time and so the 2 marks worth of work that I'd done was already submitted as late.
I now understand liSP, but I can't actually translate from the C / Java logic structure which I now readily think in.
Ooh well, I've submitted my tutorial paper, and this prac is only worth 6% overall.
And there's this crazy concept called the conceded pass. If you fail one of your final semester courses, but you pass all the others successfully, your mark can be upgraded to a pass.
I doubt that I'll get that bad a mark for Intelligent Systems Technology, but it's good to know that I wouldn't have to come back next year if I failed.
pipstar @ 03:33 PM | link | Comments: **
september 19, 2003
so far
- i've made yummy dinner (chicken breast with parmesan and ricotta filling, green beans and lemon butter)
- i've started a spring redesign
- i've downloaded the paper i need to write a 300wd review on by 12pm tomorrow.
- i've sorted out my inbox into folders. i'm happy because there are over 20 people deserving of their own folder.
want your own folder of love? well, send me an email! - i've uploaded another press clipping into the adelaide rock ladies website.
- i've freaked out because the yeah yeah yeahs are playing on october 14 and BRMC on the 13th. and i felt sad because i realised that the eels played tonight. so i missed them, even though i knew i couldn't afford to go.
- i've read old magazines that i bought from the library.
- i've eaten more food.
- i've listened to warped and nick drake
- i've just realised that there is a second page to the liSP prac i need to complete by 4.30 tomorrow.
sleep now.
pipstar @ 02:14 AM | link | Comments: *
september 18, 2003
the silver pendant #2
i've hammered and slightly domed the pendant. i also hammered one ring silver and kept the other ring plain.
unfortunately both rings are too big!
next week i'll be making a bangle and finishing off the other pieces.
pipstar @ 08:07 PM | link | Comments:
september 17, 2003
hi, my name is pippa and i am a geek...
It may only be exciting to me, but i'm finally understanding liSP.
I still have 2 scary looking functions to code by friday, but i actually understand what's going on now (a couple of years ago i dropped out of the subject thinking that i was an imbecile).
And so I will now share with you the (in retrospect) easy to achieve append1 function.
The append function:
* (append'(a b c)'d)
* (a b c . d)
append1 should take a list and an atom and return a single list:
* (append1'(a b c)'d)
* (a b c d)
(defun append1 (arg1 arg2)
(append arg1 (list arg2)))
pipstar @ 01:22 AM | link | Comments: *
september 15, 2003
dairy queen
in the last week i've made a concerted effort to stock up my pantry and fridge with useful ingredients. flour, tinned tomatoes, onions, potatoes, ginger and garlic, chickpeas etc.
and tonight i was unable to decide what to have for dinner.
i've explored soups (1 2, 3). home made pizza? been there.
risotto and pasta? old school.
i'd bought brie which i was not going to eat straight away, but dinner ended up being toast with avocado and brie.
delicious, but the style was of a luxurious snack, not that of a healthy main meal. and my lunch had been a large piece of yoghurt cake.
i need a new dietary pattern, combined with renewed yoga attendance.
i have fresh tomatoes and parsley. i'm going to make tomato soup and tabouli and hummus this week.
pipstar @ 12:57 AM | link | Comments: **
september 12, 2003
momentary panic
I thought that I might have to be studying Inter Enterprise Computing in order to finish my degree.
Thankfully the double degree with Arts doesn't require that subject.
pipstar @ 01:00 PM | link | Comments:
september 12, 2003
the sweater #1
I finished the body of the incredible custom fit raglan sweater last night. My investment in a dvd player has enabled me to knit without getting bored by For Love or Money or The Footy Show.
Accompanied by old episodes of Sex and the City and Tales from the City I've almost completed the jumper. And it actually looks quite fetching!
Luckily I've got the entire series of The Office from the local library, so hopefully I'll get through the sleeves before the weather gets too warm.
And the cost so far? $12.
Yay for super cheap yarn (nylon, wool and elasten blend) at $1.50 a ball.
pipstar @ 12:58 PM | link | Comments:
september 11, 2003
the silver pendant #1
I started a jewellery course last night. I'll be making a pendant, ring and bangle, (and possible some earrings with the spare silver from the pendant).
I've cut out the pendant design and started filing it down around the edges. I'll hammer the metal and dome it next week.
pipstar @ 12:41 PM | link | Comments: *
september 09, 2003
the best
Well, I just found out that I didn't get the graduate position that I went for. However, I did get to the final shortlist of 5 people, and there were 3 positions available.
Based on significant statistical research (by KHo and myself) that puts me in the top 1.7% applying for that job.
I felt that I was supremely lucky getting to the first interview, so to be one of the final candidates was mind blowing.
Anyway, now I need to think of more places to apply to. Any ideas?
pipstar @ 11:54 AM | link | Comments: **
september 08, 2003
stuff i ♥
to drink
it smells like flowers
pipstar @ 08:49 PM | link | Comments:
september 08, 2003
spring [sorting]
i managed to tidy everything up and my room smells super pretty from the freesias and jasmine that i picked.
there is still a large box of random junk which belongs in other places or the bin, but all the things which belong in my bedroom (earrings without their mate, badges, childhood figurines etc) have been appropriately positioned.
i told mum and ed last night that i needed 5 new pairs of shoes. my theory is that with those shoes i would theoretically not need to buy another pair until
a) a pair fell apart
b) i really, really wanted a pair of shoes with a desire strong enough to match karah's need for pink converse hi-tops.
i'm going to carry on the momentum of yesterday's clean up with a supremely efficient attack upon my living room.
pipstar @ 09:38 AM | link | Comments: *
september 07, 2003
spring [cleaning]
it's been more than difficult to find specific clothes lately and to see the carpet, so i figured that i'd better clean up my bedroom.
it's slowly happening. i've dusted the venetian blinds and washed the curtains. i've vacuumed and wiped down skirting boards. moved around my bookshelf and bedside table, folded blankets and hung up clothes. i've picked a bunch of freesias and sung along to grant lee buffalo and lauren hill.
i've even (and you can imagine how difficult this is) worked out that i need five new pairs of shoes. brown suede boots (my current pair are literally falling apart), black "motorcycle" boots (already fallen apart and thrown away), new hiking boots (also falling apart), sneakers which look cool and which are also good for running / gym (falling apart) and a pair of black leather slides.
now that was tough work.
and now i'm left with two huge boxes of small things which have no particular home and i have to sort through them all and put them places or throw them away.
i'm sneezing and itchy from all the dust, but i'm going to struggle through the sorting out process.
pipstar @ 05:02 PM | link | Comments:
september 06, 2003
wondering?
i just attempted to write a new about page and i got stuck. what i need is some questions.
an FAQ about me if you like.
is there a question you've always wanted to ask me? use the contact link up top and ask away. (if you want you can be anonymous)
and i promise that i'll answer honestly.
pipstar @ 01:00 AM | link | Comments: *
september 05, 2003
whoops
if i want to apply for any of the government graduate positions i have to wait until about february next year for applications to open. and even then a lot of the jobs don't actually start until at least half way through the year.
a graduate diploma?
but in what?
pipstar @ 05:47 PM | link | Comments:
september 05, 2003
handheld
i've been promising it to brian for a little while and i've finally made up a very basic handheld blog page.
pipstar @ 12:18 AM | link | Comments: *
september 04, 2003
buttercup
i'm going to have a big walk this afternoon in the sun in the hope that it will make me feel super cheery again.
yesterday evening (after a good bit of sun earlier in the day) i was feeling so happy. the assignment due this afternoon had been extended by a week, the Big Group Project issues were disappearing and the next 10 or so weeks of university weren't looking that difficult.
sweet.
but when i was having dinner at mum's and she mentioned that it was only 1000 weeks until she and my stepdad would be 70. egad! that means it's about 316 weeks until i'm 30!
in my youthful plans (way back when i was 17) i thought that i'd have my first child when i was 27. 160 weeks! of which my stepfather pointed out, 40 would be taken up by pregnancy.
i must admit i was idealistic at age 17. i was quite happy to have a child regardless of whether i had a partner. now, 7 years on, i've realised that a) i'd need some healthy man to help with the whole conception process and b) once i had lived through 40 weeks of nausea, aching body and peeing all the time, i'd want to have someone to hold my hand during the birth.
so i've removed the 27 target.
more importantly, the next six months are going to shape my life direction so considerably. there are heaps of things that i wouldn't mind doing (IT systems development, postgraduate IT or cultural studies, architecture, saving the world, handbag designing, self sufficient hippieness, owning cool store with stuff from around the world which i get to go on buying trips for) so I'll pretty much take the first good job that comes along.
as i'll be applying for graduate positions, it means that i could end up with a job in canberra, melbourne, sydney or adelaide. quite frankly i'm happy to move anywhere, but i'm unable to really commit to anything significant and long term (pet, furniture purchasing, really good vegie garden). and while i'll initially go into an IT position, i have absolutely no idea of what type of IT i'll be doing.
anyway, i recovered from the mild stress, ate my dinner, left my mum's house and went home to watch Mile High.
damn i love that show. they might be humble flight attendants with perfect bodies, but i love everyone of those characters.
last night i started to cry when the plane had to make an emergency landing and Jason looked at Leeanne and they both recognised their love for each other, but neither could admit their feelings. and i felt so sad because Leeanne doesn't want to tell Jason about her 6 year old son. and then Jason had post traumatic stress disorder and to get over his fear of flying drank heaps of mini bar alcohol and overdosed on tranquilisers.
i couldn't get to sleep after that, and i wandered around attempting to tidy up because i felt so bad about the world and how inevitably people are left disappointed.
it isn't the mean reds. but it is the sad blues.
and a walk in the sun is the best remedy.
pipstar @ 01:40 PM | link | Comments: **
september 01, 2003
who is the masked man?
Thankfully the presentation date for the Big Group Project has been tentatively organised for the 15th. That means that Tuesday and Wednesday can be taken up with doing the other assignments that I've left until the last minute.
Gosh. How very exciting!
Distressingly, my head was eaten by a prehistoric flying creature, and I'm a little worried about how I'm going to think and actually complete my work without the brain which I keep within my head.
I was walking around the big city with my friend Aliese and suddenly this creature swooped and attacked me! Aliese was so scared and she screamed and screamed!
I think that there must be evil afoot.
© 2002 - 2007 Pippa Buchanan