Friday, May 26, 2006

The Beagle Has Landed

A very foggy morning today. the foggiest this year as I waited at home until the flight landed, a quick jaunt up the ring road and I was there and as I rocked up to the arrivals Raindog71 walked out! TIMING!
Straight back to the car and outta the airport parking before I could even rack up 20 minutes!
A veritable ballet of timing and out back onto the ring road. I am feeling quite ill today so I will not be going to work. I dunno - must have been mum's cooking the other night, she and dad are ill too, I will have to think twice when I accept an invite for dinner - it could be a well orchestrated ploy to make me turn down a free feed! hmmmm...
Obi Illin'...

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Moscow Obi Stylee!

I came home from work tonight expecting a call from Moscow - a 3rd degree call with hard questions and impossible answers...
I guy called William - an englishman called and chatted casually for 20 minutes about all sorts of things and basically confirmed the job as casual as you please. I have to wait for the confirm email first but I... am... going!!
The countdown begins!
Obi doing the happy dance!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

This Abacus Is Rigged!


24 Hours til I hear from Moscow about the job... I am nervous. It has come down to this. It all hinges on this call.
Thank you to the Lovely Elena for her email. Thank you sweet heart, I will need your help to find an apartment in Moscow.
Of course - work changed the rosters again so I have to split half way through a shift so I can take the call. That figures! Money is a real issue at present. I am doing the numbers and they just are not adding up...
The world is being bombarded and impacted by posiblities and opportunities, I need to keep my eye on the prize so I don't get thrown off course and lost into the sea of despair. Believe me, it is not nice, I know because I learnt to swim there.
Cross your fingers and keep your eyes peeled for the next update tomorrow...
Throw Obi a floatie!

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Same Distance - Cheaper Calls

Had a nice call this morning from my old friend recently found. She is a soft spoken little treasure but I must admit some times I cannot hear what she says and all my efforts to encourage her to speak louder are all in vain, she just has one of those whispery voices.
Obi - is getting an amplifier for his phone...
Well it is done - the second job I started I have quit - I am old and just cant cope with the extra effort for the $160 a day it will bring.... siiiiigh. Besides, I have a visitor next week from a distant galaxy and it would be remiss of me and down right inhospitible of me to not be able to show her the sights!
I have so much to do and I need some serious help getting organised. My phone interview with Moscow is in a few days. So I better be prepared.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

10 Years

How many words are normally spoken between close friend in ten years? How many thoughts shared and evolve within that dialogue? Well I don't know, I am sure no one else does, but I have a billion words to say and million of thoughts to share.
Billy Bragg comes to mind and I feel - feverant strumming and the heart felt words trying to find a home. I am torn between Levi Stubbs Tears & New England... do you understand why? I was searching for the words and a library fell out.
Obi weights up and starts the journey home.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

One In A Million

Raindog71 informed me of a message posted to me on a canadian website - more of a hello are you there sorta message. it was a few days old but I was completely mystified as to who would address me by name and look for me there. So I emailed the person and then got a reply instantly!
A dear sweet friend of mine from about 10 years ago has found me by chance and a special thanks to Raindog71 for the find.
So I welcome a new reader and a long lost friend.
Obi needs a lottery ticket - his luck is just too good to waste!

Monday, May 15, 2006

Pressure On The Powder Keg

I am so frustrated that the list of things I must do before I go away to Moscow.
  1. Work is becomingly increasing a horrible job. The contradictory idiotic methods that management use and the manner they want us to complete this project. Amazes me more each day I go to work.
  2. The virus and fatigue and other symptoms are causing an unusual increase in gravity around me... It is just so hard to get things done.
  3. Unexpected departures have shocked me, someone I believed I was very close to didn't even respect me enough to tell me he was leaving the country. I only found out that he was leaving because I contacted him. I am shocked deeply hurt and incensed that he would so glibly say - "see ya on the flipside." Fuck the flip side, you tell me you are leaving and you make time to see me in person. Respect dammit respect...So there you have it.
  4. I have a phone interview next week and I have not finished my final modules for my TESOL certificate. So I have to tell them that I am not quite ready and the 6 days a week that I am working in making anything I need to do impossible to achieve. I need help badly.

Obi is overwhelmed and it ain't getting easier.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Health Check

Obi has been working and trying to make up time and money in the short time he has left before he is off into the wild blue yonder.
Feeling tired and a little dizzy and well over worked in the past few weeks. I woke up and felt exhausted so I fobbed off work for the day and went to the doctor for a certificate. The doctor greeted me and took my blood pressure and suddenly got all serious. Seems Obi has quite high blood pressure at present... So much so he will be off to the doctor during week for a second check up... I am quite surpirsed myself and I am really questioning my health.
Obi needs to be kind to himself and lower the pressure - in all areas...
Take the pressure down - Obi

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The The Memories

Funny how something you see or some snippet of something said can flood your mind with images and thoughts of the past. The The - The great Matt Johnson has done that very thing. Picture this dear reader... In 1989 I was in Naturopathic College and quite the left side of hippy. the days started in class with hugs for all and a warm cup of herbal tea. 1989 I was an exchange student to Russia. I found a young love I never recovered from in minus 40c and the diesel fumes from my hotel window in Moscow and St Petersberg...
Infected was an album I bought for the first single, I loved the cover, a crazy abboration of a cubistic type artwork I had seen in my uncles room while a very small boy. I was drawn to it like an insect. I fell in love with each word in the songs and created a landscape in my mind from the feelings and images it conjured for me. Infected is comfortably placed in my all time top 5.
The house painting is going well and I am keen to get things moving faster, spoke to a few real estate agents and I am keep to get the house empty.
Lots to do and less time to do it...
Obi get a wiggle on!

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

The Stupid Leading The Blind

Well it is clearly apparent that the company I work for is run by idiots and inept fools. The simple facts are - 50 people were hired, for 37 desks, 4 days training and 64 combinations and numerous unexpected and unexplained deals. Telephones and IVR skill spilts not switched on. So today I spent 3 hours today logged in and waiting only to find that the connection between us and the main lines were not activated. Ah the professionalism!
swapped a day so I can go to the airport too!
I broke my front tooth a few days ago. I have a nasty diagonal break and a pin exposed from the tooth, I am far from happy. Working 6 daze a week I have no time to find a dentist and get it fixed. I am looking for input here - should I pay for the full hollywood smile at $8500 (which I have been planning for years) or should I just get the quick fix (cheaper)...
Lines are open kids - send me our opinions....
Obi talk back radio...

Saturday, May 06, 2006

My Week At Work

Well it is surprising how many new friends you can make in a week!
Tomorrow off to Yum Cha with my new mate Chris from Aberdeen. Should be nice. I finally got paid after a bungle at work - they paid out nearly $600 to someone that aint me... oh well a keying error can be rather expensive.
Raindog71 will be in my city in a few weeks, maybe I should try and meet up with her. I understand she has quite the busy schedule and a list a mile long of things to do. I hope I can meet up with her somewhere in between.
My imminent bills will be out of the way in a week and I will be having my house painted by a professional starting next week. About $3000 is the quote, I hope she does a good job...
Well that is all...
Obi out...

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Obiload!

A busy week which will be the template of my life for the next few months. Working 6 daze a week to catch up on bills and pay for small renovations to my house will make it hard to be anything much to anyone.
Having said that, I have met a great bunch of people and have some wonderful new friends. Though complex situations are developing I am doing my best to be the new improved Obi by being, bright and cheery and positive about life. It is working to a degree, I just hope I don't end up being spread too thinly with work and committments and fun and all the stuff inbetween..
Getting emails from my TESOL friends is great and making me itchy to travel, the count is up and Japan Thailand China and Italy are the places I am now getting emails from.
Life - its a funny thing, but you wouldn't buy one for quids...
Obi Butter or Magarine...
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