Paul's journal

Closing down

2009-09-09T00:58:05Z

So I found out last night I have no reason to keep this livejournal account active.

I've only been using it to read a couple of journals and if I want to keep doing that I can see the same content via an RSS reader.

So once I make sure I've saved everything I need to, I'm turning off the lights and closing the door.

Goodbye Scans_Daily

2009-03-01T22:39:00Z

Scans_Daily made me laugh on a regular basis, got me to increase my comic buying habit, and was a place where I felt like my love of comics was shared. I'm sorry to see it go. It was the main reason I kept my livejournal account open when I moved my blogging to other sites. I'll join up NoScans_Daily tonight and catch up there.

Wicked tickets

2008-02-25T01:51:56Z

After several searches I found a ticket for Wicked that I was happy with. One row back from where I sat on Saturday night but at the other end of the row. Should be great, but August 16 feels so long away!

Priscilla

2008-02-24T07:08:57Z

I'm so glad I got a ticket to Priscilla Queen of the Desert. It was a fantastic show.

Tony Sheldon who was wonderful as Roger DeBris in The Producers, was incredible in this. He inhabited the role of Bernadette so completely that it was a shock to see him come out for a final bow as himself and not her.

There was an understudy, Rohan Seinor, in the role of Tick/Mitzi but he did a great job, and Daniel Scott was gorgeous and hilarious as Adam/Felicia. Bill Hunter reprised his movie role of Bob nicely although the chemistry with Bernadette wasn't as strong. Collette Mann did well in her big number, but seemed to be concentrating hard on the other dance acts.

I don't think I've ever seen a Chorus full of so many hot guys. The performance of Venus in particular got the heart rate up especially from my close view.

I had a seat on the aisle in the second front row. It was a great position and although the few times things happened on the floor they were hard to see it was made up for being so close to the performers. I'm going to try to get a similar seat for Wicked, playing in the same theatre.

I'm not sure how well this show will go overseas as so much of the material feels so uniquely Australian. The general themes, music and showiness will but there'd need to be a lot of changes to many of the jokes. And that would be a shame because many of these were hilarious.

I'd been hesitant to see this because I'd heard about the Divas singing while the performers lip synced. But this was only a small part of the musical and the rest of the cast sang the other songs. The selection was interesting and most were woven into the show nicely (although 'Macarthur Park' was rather forced).

The costumes were as spectacular as you'd expect. The staging was very interesting. The actual bus was a great set.

There was a little audience interaction too. The first time I think the audience wasn't sure how to respond. The second time I was hoping they'd pick me because it was a show that really made me want to get up and dance. (Maybe even to drag up but that's another matter!)

paulbot @ 2008-02-18T12:29:00

2008-02-18T01:30:45Z

My dating experience is pretty lacking, so I'm wondering what (if anything) it means when I ask someone out for lunch and they end up paying for both our meals. It feels like a good thing to me.

paulbot @ 2008-02-17T20:29:00

2008-02-17T09:32:57Z

Inspired by crossoverman , here's a list of the musicals I've seen on stage. Although I'm a bit of a late-bloomer to musical theatre, my overdose in New York last May has given me a real taste. There's even two more I'm seeing over the next few weeks.

Spamalot (Australia)
Curtains (Broadway)
Tarzan (Broadway)
Spring Awakening (Broadway)
Mary Poppins (Broadway)
Avenue Q (Broadway)
Legally Blonde (Broadway)
Les Miserables (Broadway)
The Phantom of the Opera (Las Vegas version)
The Lion King (Australia)
The Producers (Australia)
The Pyjama Game (High school)
Damn Yankees (High school)
Oliver! (High school)
Joseph and Technicolour Dreamcoat (Primary school)

Lunch

2008-02-15T04:01:57Z

Lunch went well... very well.

Lunch went longer than my lunchbreak but it easily could have gone longer.

I am very happy this afternoon and I'm going to swim in this happiness as long as I can.

Tickets

2008-02-14T09:38:52Z

I missed out on "Bare" (well I'm on the waiting list but all remaining shows are sold out) so I locked in some other tickets tonight. Off to see "Priscilla" next weekend and "Keating" a few weekends later. I can't find a seat I like in the "Wicked" presale so I will have to line up for the regular release.

Valentines 2008

2008-02-14T09:04:48Z

I wasn't jealous of the women in the office that got their flowers. I didn't get annoyed by the coworker who complained about Valentines Day... because her boyfriend wouldn't do anything special until tonight. I was (too) jealous to see a friend's facebook's status change to in a relationship.

The thing that got me upset today was when it was suggested a meeting be rescheduled until 1pm tomorrow.

No way!

I am not going to reschedule my lunch appointment again. I've waited long enough for this, I want to see him tomorrow.

It hits the fan

2008-02-12T21:45:11Z

There's an episode of South Park where all the town gathers around the TV in eager anticipation of someone saying the "S" word.

Feels a bit like that this morning.

Feb 11 updates

2008-02-11T08:35:38Z

Over the weekend I saw "No Country For Old Men" which I enjoyed more than I expected to. It's damn scary. I also watched part one of "Cassanova" which I enjoyed but it did feel like The Doctor was running around Venice.

I've been to the library (where I borrowed Casanova) and stacked up on books I've been wanting to read. Library books are usually easier to get through because there is a deadline for when I have to complete them by. I've stared reading Max Barry's "Company" and although I am in the public sector, my Department's big enough for there to be similarities and the story is very amusing. I'm flying through the book.

I couldn't get good tickets in the Wicked pre-sale, left it too late I suppose, so I'm waiting for the proper release. I'm tempted to see Priscilla too... can't decide. I do want to see Keating since a few people have recommended that lately. I also can't decide on Bare but I listen to some excerpts and am thinking of going this Friday (but I'm also keen to leave that night open in case the lunchtime date on Friday goes well).

The list of possible used cars to look at is dwindling. I'm getting a firmer idea of what I'd like to buy. My car's twenty years old and I can afford a newer one so why not?

My thoughts on housing are changing. I'm thinking of buying something further out of town where my money will go further and get something larger. I'd like something like my sister's townhouse really but a bit closer to public transport for getting to work. I also want to keep some money aside for a trip to the US next year.

Broadway Backwards

2008-02-06T12:47:22Z

Broadway Backwards sounds and looks really interesting.

I'm hoping to find the following on YouTube:

* "A Boy Like That / I Have a Love" from West Side Story preformed by two men.

* Neil Patrick Harris and his partner singing "Take me or Leave Me"

* And the male ensemble (in towels) singing "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," from South Pacific.

Wicked tickets

2008-02-05T08:28:40Z

Now that the cast of Wicked has been announcd I expect tickets to go on sale shortly. I think my sister has expressed some interest in going with me, but I will need double-check that.

I did consider buying two tickets anyway, in the hope that by the time the show came around I'd have someone to take. That would be magic.

Same lunch

2008-01-29T01:59:05Z

Just been to Subway to get my lunch and the guy ahead of me ordered the exact same thing I was about to get. If he'd been cute it could have been a good start to a conversation, instead I changed my order at the last second.

Subway's by far the cheapest place around my office to get a sandwich or roll but I couldn't walk far today anyway. My calf muscles are sore from all the standing around at the BBQ yesterday.

I should be having a slightly more fancy lunch later in what's either a lunch date or a set date to have lunch.

Obey the yellow!

2008-01-28T22:31:53Z

What an odd choice for the new VicRoads Tram ads - a man in the road playing with cars and trams that run on top of him... http://www.thinktram.vic.gov.au/

Trapped in the Closet

2008-01-22T11:22:44Z

R Kelly's Trapped in the Closet hiphopera must be one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen. Once I stumbled upon this on the music channel the other night I couldn't turn away! It just goes on and on... for 22 chapters! I never knew the R Kelly parts of the South Park episode of the same name were a parody of this film clip series. I just can't work out what he was thinking when he made this? It's not exactly radio-friendly.

Cloverfield

2008-01-20T04:04:08Z

Bit early but I think this is a good contender for the worst movie of the year. With about half an hour to go I thought should I just get up and leave? And yeah I probably should have.

The constant shaking of the camera was making me sick and I just didn't care if these people got out or not. Could that party have gone on any longer?

The initial attack scene and their 911-style aftermath was the most interesting thing.

DS Internet

2008-01-13T09:14:35Z

I took my DS out with me this weekend and have made use of McDonald's free Nintendo WiFi to check my email and also to trade Pokemon. I can see how people with Blackberries get hooked on the easy access to their email.

27 Dresses

2008-01-13T09:08:01Z

James Marsden often comes across as too good looking on film (like in Hairspray or Enchanted) but by playing more natural in this film (compared to the other two) he was definitely hotter.

I liked the film a lot and had a few really good laughs. Even though you could map out the rest of the plot by the end of the first act, it was still enjoyable to watch.

Leaks

2008-01-10T11:30:26Z

Very surprised to wake up and hear a new initiative that hasn't been announced yet being discussed on the radio. When I got to to work I found that it was a surprise to all in the office. We're trying to work out how this happened which meant a bit of forensic log file analysis which was an interesting little challenge. I also saved a new file as evidence of why we'll never have a blog on our websites.

Hot days and nights

2008-01-10T11:27:06Z

Another hot day in the city. The office has kept me cool though. I went out at lunchtime to check out JB's 20% off sale, but it hadn't reached the 40 degrees mark by then.

It had when I left to go to goodbye drinks for Drew. Fortunately the pub was cool. Stayed about an hour and then got a bit eager to get going.

The train was really slow most of the way home but getting out of it I was hit by this wall of heat. The house is alright today though and I'm happy to hear that the cool change is coming around lunchtime tomorrow.

An Interview

2008-01-08T01:24:14Z

I had a job interview this morning to take over my manager's position. Mine was the last of three, and a little weirdly, and because it was an internal interview, I've already got the results. They are offering it to another person with seven years experience in a similar role.

But I've also got feedback on the interview too which was good, I was second pick of the people they interviewed and Ursula's given me some advice on how to make some stronger responses next time.

I'm not too disappointed, I think I kind of knew I wasn't quite ready anyway to take the role anyway, which is why I was slow to apply, but it was good experience doing an job interview since I haven't had one since mid-2001!

I Am Legend

2008-01-06T09:18:25Z

Some light spoilers ahead...

I think the Mutant Enemy Production's cardboard monster is probably more scarier than any of the CGI in I Am Legend. I wish movie makers wouldn't keep relying on CGI so much in horror movies when physical effects work so much better.

I think CGI can work well for some monster movies, for example I think that the bugs from Starship Troopers hold up brilliantly ten years later, but this film was just an example of where they go wrong.

Some of the CGI was really nice, I loved the coming soon movie poster that was added to Times Square for example, as well as the ruined look of Manhattan but there was more than one time that Will Smith needed to face something real.

And why did the real mistake his character made never really get acknowledged? He never seemed to realise it. I was disappointed by the ending too which reminded me a lot of a much better film.

Back home again

2008-01-05T13:39:06Z

After several days away I'm back home.

I've spent the last four days down at Phillip Island. Very nice weather, a lot of quiet time to relax and chill out.

I did venture of the island to Wonthaggi for some country shopping.

I didn't go in to the water, other than wading, because there was no one looking out for me, and as the ads say "you're on your own if something goes wrong"

Hopefully when I go down next year there will be someone on the sand with me.

End of 2007

2007-12-31T06:05:14Z

Wow another year over already!

I didn't meet all of my New Year's Resolutions from last year. Not sure what my new ones will be.

I definitely haven't ended the year where (and with who) that I'd hoped but I haven't given up hope.

Next year promises to be interesting. I should hopefully have a job interview early on which could bring major changes. And a long time crush has come back into my life and while I'm trying to play it cool he does make me smile.

Bring on 2008