The weekend!

The best thing about today was the fact that it's Friday and finally the weekend. I have an eternal, lasting love of the weekends.

The worst thing about today was giving bad news, via a series of communication errors things went wrong and not at all the way planned.

Best and worst: the I-don't-blog-enough edition

The best thing about today was watching the newest episode of Lost. It's freaking amazing. I can't wait until the sixth season is finished. Guess who's spending Winter in a Lost marathon of epic proportions?

The worst thing about today was getting up. Doing the unemployed thing getting up was enjoyable. I could wake up when I was ready, watch Sunrise, have a leisurely coffee and think about all the possibilities for my day. Now, however, mornings are alarms, leaving warm arms, making lunch, hoovering some caffeine and rushing out the door. Not fair.

Superbug

On top of the pressures of getting, and then starting a new job, the last few weeks I have been battling a major bug infestation.

In my bed.

I think it's an infestation of fleas. I have no idea how they arrived, but I know they are driving me batshit crazy.

So far I have flea bombed, bug bombed and introduced professional-strength spray. I have soaked all my bedding, sprayed a planet-killing amount of fly spray and the little buggers will not leave me alone.

It's starting to affect my sanity.

I've never seen one, but I swear to God I feel them all the time. When I'm at home, when I'm at work - every moment I feel my skin crawling with little, tiny, probably-imaginary bugs.

They need to go.

So far I've spent about $50 trying to eradicate the suckers. I'm likely to spend the same amount when I call all-out war on them this weekend. I plan to -

• Remove all furniture around the bed - some I plan to throw out entirely
• Remove all bedding and wash it all
• Put a flea collar into the vacuum cleaner bag
• Vacuum the room throughly
• Separate the mattress and base of my bed, stand them up.
• Get the biggest, baddest bug bomb I can find and let it off
• Spray every item of bedding with bug spray after it has been washed
• Vacuum the room again - and every single day until the suckers are GONE.

Let them survive flea apocalypse!

I can't understand how this started and it only affects my room and I've had enough!

Sales

Today I found myself in need of a new vacuum cleaner. The fact that someone in my house had used it to suck up glass, shells and rock off the floor while it was bagless contributed to my need. Well, actually, it created my need - I can't help but feel a little resentful when a brush and pan would have been a workable, ultimately cheaper option - but enough of the snarky bitching.

In line with my new 'I am an adult and I will buy adult things' policy, I decided that it was time to throw away the third-hand, free vacuum I had acquired along the line and replace it with something good and new.

Plus I remembered that Godfrey's were having a major sale, so in a fit of rage at the aforementioned flatmate, I asked Caine if he wanted to take me to get a vacuum cleaner. He agreed, we worked out that the nearest one was in New Lynn, and along with Anna, we all jumped in the car to go get ourselves a ridiculously cheap vacuum cleaner.

We arrived and discovered that there was no mega-sale on. It was just a normal sale. The salesman quickly pounced on me and I was asked how big our house was. Once he was told it was three rooms we discovered this boy knew a scary amount of stuff about vacuum cleaners.

He also wanted to sell me one vacuum cleaner in particular.

Now, truth be told, my conversation with this salesman taught me a few things about vacuum cleaners - like a bagless vacuum might sound like a good idea to someone who can never, ever find the right bag - but it actually means you have to buy an even more expensive filter instead.

But really, he was a little too pushy, way too dismissive of the cheaper models I was clearly more interested in, and he was only really presenting one option.

He may well be right, it probably was my best option - but it was about three times more than I had.

So we made an exit and caught our breath in JB HiFi before deciding there was pretty much no way I was going back to Godfrey's. We checked out Noel Leeming and very almost bought the vacuum cleaner there - except no one at all would help us. That's normally not an issue but, as is the story of my life, I couldn't find the right bags.

So we walked out and went to The Warehouse.

Where I found a machine, in my price range that has a reusable, washable vacuum bag. On checkout we had a friendly checkout lady who advised me to keep my receipt because the vacuum came with a two year warranty.

On getting home, the only thing wrong with my el-cheapo vacuum was the pole and head - an issue quickly solved by taking the old pole and head attachment and putting them onto the new vacuum.

Moral of the story? There is a such thing as an oversell - on me, the critical sign is frantically looking at my friends for help - and a such thing as an undersell - when I look around waiting for a salesman.

The fact is I always value good service and the balance between helpfulness and overbearing is a difficult one to manage. Normally I would walk into a store knowing exactly what I want, but the circumstances meant I didn't have the time to do my normal research.

In the end, the place that offers me a product, and isn't too fussy if I open the box to check things out if I'm not 100% sure about them, was the one that got my cash. Sorry vacuum guy.

Useless City

yeah, I'm horrid and useless - beginning a new job is hard and I've actually wanted to do absolutely nothing when I've arrived home each night - and that includes blogging.

The job is pretty good, I'm starting to come to grips with what it is I actually do and I've been out to visit clients and also begun to get stuck into the stuff my job actually entails. I think it's entirely possible that once I've got my head around it properly that I could actually really enjoy it.

Oh, and I can use Twitter - not that I have the time.

Final day of freedom

It's my final day before I start my new job. It's currently 11.30pm and I'm awake.

I should not be awake.

I should be asleep, resting up before my first day but I am awake, with a million things running through my head.

Like what pants should I wear? Will the cash I've secured to get me through the next month actually get me through the next month? What additional costs are going to be involved with this job that I hadn't thought about? What the hell am I going to do about the driving/license situation? Do I get a lunch break and if I do, what the heck am I going to do with it? Will Twitter be blocked in the office, and if it is, how will I react to that? (it's a serious concern, so much of my social life and at-work sanity can be credited to Twitter.)

On top of that there is the other pressing issue of finding a flatmate, which will require a TradeMe ad... ooh, yesterday.

It's all a little silly, but it's keeping me up at night. Tomorrow is going to be a panic, I'm a little terrified. Right up until right now I have been fine - I've had stress but for the most part it's been contained and dealt with.

Now, however, I need to get some sleep. Stat.

Oh Analytics...

It's been a while since I looked at the Analytics for this blog. Truthfully I blog for me and no-one else, but it never fails to make me smile when I see some of the keywords people put into Google to arrive here.

Some make sense. My Gin Wigmore review is particularly popular via Google, but some... well, here are some examples of real searches that placed people on this website.

• cildren-sex blogs (not a typo and pretty scary)
• get laid find a fuck tonight gisborne
• hints to stop portaloo smells
• i am amanda and i love movies and anime, i do smoke and i suffer from deppersion. i also love turtles and i have to of them
• sandcastle building 101 professional sandcastle tips tricks
• the cacaman shittin on the industry

Yup, the Internet is an interesting place.

The Pixies as well

Wow, it's going to be one heck of a musical weekend, Anna and I just scored tickets to The Pixies.

That means over two nights I'll see The Pixies and Lady Gaga. Talk about exciting!!

Today's my last real day of freedom. On Monday I start my new job. That's a little sad, but welcome because I really am starting to get bored (even though I've spent the last three days picking up freelance work).

Hurrah!

Lady Gaga. Fuck yes!!

I just got a phone call to tell me I've won tickets to Lady Gaga thanks to NZGirl.

I'm stoked.

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Lady Gaga - in fact apart from what I've seen on the telly or heard on the radio or online, I don't really know anything about her.

But obviously I know that she's one of the biggest names around in the world of pop right now. I know that she's completely outrageous and I know that pop concerts go either one of two ways - they are amazing spectacular spectacles filled with costumes and dancing and lights and fireworks, or they are messes who can't dance and lipsync.

I do not think Lady Gaga is going to fit into the second category.

I've been saying for months that if I got free tickets, I would go, but I wouldn't pay for them - the fact is that unless I really love a band, my budget just doesn't stretch to Vector Arena. Thankfully, I did win tickets and now I'm going with my flatmate Caine on Saturday night.

Should be a fab night!!

My own private Garden of Eden

A couple of weeks ago I went to a garden center and bought some plants, dirt and pots. I began my own little garden.

A couple of days ago I found a disused recycling bin, filled it with dirt and today I added some more plants to my balcony garden.

I am now growing my own coffee, rocket, lettuce, corriander, oregano, parsley, chives, rosemary and silverbeet.

We're now a couple of weeks along and not only is everything still alive, it's even growing.

Satisfaction win.

On the hunt - again

Once again I find myself in the position of needing to find a flatmate.

Since I've been in this flat I've gone through four flatmates. The first moved in at the same time as me and moved out for a cheaper place, the second we kicked out because he couldn't/refused to pay his rent, the third is heading overseas at the end of the month (and the fourth is still living here).

We have someone - this time sourced via social media - coming over to have a look tomorrow and boy, I really hope she likes it. I really hate having to go through the process of searching via TradeMe. It's hardly worked out for me in the past.

I really do like the idea of finding a random via social networks though - whether they be actual social networks of friends or online social networks - there's something comforting in the fact that you know someone who knows someone who's looking for a flat that kind of reassures you that they're not a freak and they'll pay their rent.

Finger's crossed!

Best and worst: the money edition

The worst thing about today was having to deal with my bank who haven't give me a straight answer for a week. After complaining, things got put right, but it's still not in my favour.

The best thing about today is that my father is the most awesome person on the planet, and now I don't need the bank.

Unemployment is definitely starting to lose it's charm - particularly on my bank balance. Thank God I'm starting the new job next week!!

Best and worst: the drunken edition

The best thing about today was discovering Bang! Bang! Eche! at the bFM Summer Series. It was my first experience of these guys and they ROCKED!

The worst thing about today was the disappointing show from The Mint Chicks at the bFM Summer Series. Maybe I'm getting old, that just sounded like crazy noise. The last time I saw them (performing She's A Mod at the Vodafone Music Awards) was much better.

I'm a little drunk right now. I've started my day with coffee and the Sunday Star-Times and then wandered down to Albert Park to enjoy live music and wine in the sun. It's been a good day.

Le Sud

When Auckland Theatre Company put out their 2010 program late last year, two plays particularly stood out for me. The first was Cabaret - performed in a Salon Perdu Spiegeltent and starring a former classmate of mine to be done at the end of the year, the second was Le Sud, a satirical play based on the premise of what would happen if the French ruled the South Island, while the English ruled the North.

I managed to get to Le Sud today and had a great time. While there wasn't all that much of a plot (the play centers around a set of diplomatic talks between the French Sud Island and the English North, bought about due to the South suddenly doubling the price of power for the North Island overnight) the jokes were absolute gold. Not much has escaped playwright Dave Armstrong's fierce pen. He takes swipes at the All Blacks, every single political party, MMP, socialism, the Treaty of Waitangi, Maoridom, the French, nuclear-free New Zealand... even Wattie's tomato sauce doesn't get away.

Everything we hold dear as Kiwi's has the piss taken out of it, and it works - the audience was in stitches from beginning to end - even throughout the extended opening scene which is pretty much entirely in French.

So what did I really think? Well, I thought it was hilarious and a great way to spend an afternoon. The jokes were completely accessible to anyone with a mild interest in current events - but I think it was funnier for those of us who actually do follow the somewhat ridiculous world of national and local politics.

The cast were all brilliant but the stand out for me was George Henare as Tama Te Tonga, Le Sud's Minister of Native Affairs - who wheels and deals in a wide variety of ventures on the side. Henare's best moment, however, was during the powhiri as he kept extracting more and more money from the French government for his services, and the proceeding waiata - a rendition of Poi E (complete with the robot dance), soon scrapped for a round of Fara Jaka by the three French representatives - which had us all in stitches.

As per my last ATC production review for Oliver!, I was again blown away by the set. This time, rather than the revolving awesomeness of that set, we were presented with a beautiful French-inspired meeting room in which the play's talks take place. On walking into the theatre, the audience gazes at this beautiful set complete with Edith Piaf playing while we wait for the show to begin. Before the play even starts, the audience are feeling very French.

Finally, I need to mention the plays costumes, which come from a range of local designers including Adrienne Winkelmann and Working Style. The best one, however, is absolutely the beautiful Trelise Cooper piece worn by Miriama McDowell. I can't find a decent photo of it online, but if you watch the video below, containing footage from the show, you'll see what I mean.

The production, unfortunately, comes to a close tonight - but with over 9,800 people through the doors to see it, it has officially beaten ATC's previous award-winning hit, The Pohutukawa Tree, as their most popular production. Next up on ATC's dance card is The Importance of Being Earnest, which opens at the Maidment on 11 March, and promises to be a must see as director Colin McColl has promised a modernised version of Oscar Wilde's classic play incorporating influences from Lady Gaga to Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles.

Related Links:

Auckland Theatre Company

ATC Green Room Blog

And so the boredom sets in

I really don't have much to write about today.

I've still got one more week on this unemployment thing and actually, it's starting to get old. I'd quite like to go back to work now.

I'm really glad I actually have a job to get to but I'm kinda wishing that would hurry up and start. I'm getting bored, I want something to do.

COOKIES COOKIES COOKIES!!!!

Yesterday I spent a few hours baking cookies - lots and lots of cookies.

Want to make my spectacular cookies? The recipes are below.

The first lot are Best Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies which Spinneretta put me onto. The recipe is taken from allrecipes.com.

The second lot are my special chocolate cookies. They're always well received and I usually times the recipe by four - and it's rare that they make it a week in any flat I've ever lived in.

Best, Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups Flour

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Salt

3/4 cup Butter, melted

1 cup Brown Sugar, packed

1/2 cup White Sugar

1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract

1 Egg

1 Egg Yolk

2 cups Chocolate Chips

1. Sift flour, baking soda and salt
2. In another container, cream butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Beat in vanilla and eggs until light and creamy.
3. Mix dry ingredients into wet until just blended. Add chocolate chips, stir.
4. Drop dough 1/4 cup (for BIG cookies) or 1 tablespoon (for medium cookies) at a time onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. If making BIG cookies, space 8cm apart, if making medium cookies, space 3cm apart.
5. Bake for 15 minutes for BIG cookies, 10 for medium cookies at 165 degrees celcius until edges are lightly toasted. Cool for 2-3 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to cooling rack

Kat's Awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies

125g Butter

1c Sugar

1 Egg

1 1/2 cups Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

Pinch of Salt

2 tablespoons Cocoa

1 cup Chocolate Chips

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
2. Add egg and beat well
3. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa into mixture and mix (in the video I put them into a separate container then mixed into the wet ingredients separately. I also find that at this stage, once it's solid enough to handle, it's easier to just knead it all together)
4. Add chocolate chips. I usually don't measure these and instead just keep adding them until it won't handle any more.
5. Roll into a long snake about 2cm wide, cut into 1cm pieces and roll into balls.
6. Place on greased oven tray and press lightly with a fork to flatten.
7. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 5-7 minutes for soft cookies or 8-12 minutes for crunchy cookies.

Music Video Awesomeness

I love music videos. A good music video is often enough to get me to fall in love with a band. OK Go are one of those bands who put out amazing videos every single time.

Anyone who knows OK Go knows they specialise in awesome videos. From the first moment I saw their break away viral video for A Million Ways done in a backyard and spawning thousands of copycat videos all over YouTube, I knew I loved them. Witness the awesomeness of a Matrix-style fight done by four dudes in suits to a catchy song.

The followed up A Million Ways with the slightly less awesome but still very cool Invincible, in which the band dragged items - including a water cooler, a bed, a giant jar of olives and a white drum kit - into a room... then blow them up.

The next song was the one everybody knows - Here it Goes Again done on treadmills. That's three awesome videos, all with basic premises but which all make you stop and go 'wow!' Not only that, but OK Go have catchy songs. Songs which you like more because you can't help but love the videos.

But wait! There's more. There's also the brilliant Do What You Want which features a marching band, a hoola hoop artist, salsa dancers, people riding segways, skate boarders and people on pogo sticks - all in a room, dressed in the same pattern as the backing wall paper and carpet. No faces, no skin - even their props are covered in the stuff.

No other band I've ever seen have quite done for the music video what OK Go does. While their earlier videos (pre 2007) are usually quite average, everything after 2007 is pure gold. The exception to this rule is C-C-C-Cinnamon Lips which is pretty clearly the early run up to A Million Ways.

After Do What You Want, they took a bit of a break, but came back with WTF? which plays on the same kind of effect as the bouncing cards at the end of Solitaire (you know those ones that you keep waiting to fill the whole screen?)

Want to know how they put that piece of colourful spectacular together? Check out the making of video. OK Go are pretty brilliant for their YouTube presence - they show how they make the videos, and vlog. They are clearly pretty aware of how to use the viral video to increase sales. Like most viral video attempts, not everything works - today was the first time I'd discovered WTF, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. The making of is definitely worth checking out.

Today, OK Go released their newest creation for This Too Shall Pass and let's just say it's taken off. I've seen it plastered everywhere this morning and it's only been online for 18 hours. Check it out below.

Much like WTF?, the band have created a making of video for this one, spread over four parts. You can check them out here: part one, part two, part three, part four.

What you mightn't realise is that they regularly put out two versions of a video. Check out the other version of Do What You Want. They've also got a second version of This Too Shall Pass, which will probably make you laugh out loud.

The thing is, OK Go are the masters of the single-take music video. A Million Ways, Here it Goes Again and both versions of This Too Shall Pass are all done in a single take. Simply amazing.

And THAT, dear boys and girls, is why I like OK Go. It's not their music (though I like that too), it's their music videos, which always put a smile on my face.

Biding time: Day eight

After yesterday's post I got to go swimming. It's the second time I've been swimming this Summer which is a bit pathetic but it was so nice! Anna and I went to Cheltenham Beach on the Shore. The water looked a little choppy when we got there, but once we got in we were quite pleasantly surprised by the nice warm temperature. Given the crazy heat of yesterday it was a great way to cool off.

After swimming, we ended up getting Burger King and sitting down to eat it at Takapuna Beach, watching the waves and the surfers. It was a great way to round out what had been a fairly blah day.

Today, however, has been pretty productive. Caine, my flatmate, had the day off work so after waking up and having coffee, we decided we'd go get some lunch, some groceries, and I floated the idea of perhaps visiting a garden center as well.

You see, our balcony has had a collection of empty pots sitting on it for a while now and over the weekend our other flatmate had managed to add to it with some drunken shenanigans. I'm not much of a green fingers but I thought that some herbs and maybe some lettuce or something might provide something interesting on our balcony, plus in the long run maybe even save us some money, so today I organised a little garden.

We now have two kinds of lettuce, rocket, rosemary, chives, parsley, oregano and coriander growing as well as my favourite - coffee!

Hopefully they won't die.

Biding time: Day seven

It's a paperwork day today. I'm finally ridding myself of all those niggly little jobs I've been meaning to do, like spending time on hold to talk to my insurance company, the bank, the IRD...

I've spent quite a lot of time on hold today.

But, I've now made the applications, changed addresses, added and subtracted relevant things to all the bits and pieces I've needed to. There's still some organisation to go, but the wheels are moving at least and that's a start.

I've also sat down and sorted out the flat bills and expenses. It turns out the Flatmate from Hell owes me around $170, which is more than I thought. I'd get excited about the money, but it's pretty hard to when I know I'm not going to be seeing it for quite a while, if at all.

And then there's the whole looking for a flatmate thing. The third flatmate is moving out to go on his OE at the end of the month and we need to find someone to replace him.

Yup, more hunting for a flatmate, good fun.

I just keep telling myself that by mid-April all of this will be over and I'll finally be able to get back to a normal life...