Thursday Thirteen

Another thirteen books sitting on the desk waiting for me to do something with them...

1. Entombed - Linda Fairstein
Crime fiction
2. Dracula - Bram Stoker
"Complete and unabridged"!
3. Princes of Sandastre - Antony Swithin
"The perilous quest for Lyonesse". Book 1 of a fantasy trilogy.
4. Shadow Watch - Tom Clancy (created by, not written by)
Ick
5. Eye of the Beholder - David Ellis
Serial killer thriller
6. The Gates - Jennifer Johnston
Irish. Revolves around a family's attempts to revive their fortunes.
7. The Treatment and the Cure - Peter Kocan
Prison drama
8. Flora's Suitcase - Dalia Rabinovich
A young Jewish couple migrate to Colombia.
9. When Elephants Weep - Jeffrey Masson and Susan McCarthy
The emotional lives of animals. Non-fiction.
10. The Safe House - Nicci French
Crime fiction
11. "Don't Fall Off The Mountain" - Shirley Maclaine
Autobiography
12. Superstitions - R.L. Stine
Horror. Stine usually writes for kids but this is for adults apparently.
13. The Cigarette Girl - Carol Wolper
A modern romance set in LA/Hollywood.
T13

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Memory :: is always the first to go


2. Original :: and the best


3. Exclusively :: snobbishly


4. Listings :: rental


5. Bucket :: There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza. (Is it Liza?)


6. Knight :: in shining armour


7. Dusty :: Springfield


8. Choice :: options


9. Sunlight :: is good light


10. Change of plans :: happen often

from here

What's the story, morning glory?

This week's collaboration with Janet. I had no idea how to do the selective colour thing until Janet showed me. Thanks mate :)

What's the story, morning glory?, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "hanging". Just so happens that Phone was hanging around this week.

Hang up the Phone., originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Friday Fill-ins

1. I believe whatever doesn't kill you is a good thing.

2. If you're good at something, do it!

3. Why so quiet?

4. Something is out there, it's blocking the view.

5. If my life were a sitcom, it would be titled Drifting.

6. Sitting on my back porch [if you don't have one, use your imagination] I see the jungle.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to not much, a few drinks and maybe watch the football on TV, tomorrow my plans include work and then a BBQ at a friend's place and Sunday, I want to be smiling at another Saints win!
FFI

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen of the books currently sitting on the desk waiting to be processed and shelved:
1. The Seven Ordeals of Count Cagliostro - Iain McCalman.
Who was Count Cagliostro? A great healer and mystic, or a dangerous charlatan whose revolutionary notions and influences threatened to undermine the monarchies of France and Russia?
2. Satan's Church - Cam Lavac.
A religious thriller along the lines of The Da Vinci Code by the looks of it.
3. The Joachim Berendt Jazz Book - Joachim Berendt.
A book about Jazz!
4. A Line In The Sand - Gerald Seymour.
Thriller with Iranian baddies.
5.Treasure Islands - Pamela Stephenson.
Travel book. Sailing the South Seas in the wake of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson.
6. The Popular Voice - Derek Jewell
A musical record of the 60s and 70s.
7. Now and Then - Joseph Heller.
A Memoir from Coney Island to Here.
8. Galileo's Daughter - Dava Sobel
Biographical study of Galileo, the scientist, and his daughter, a nun. Based on her letters.
9. 1610 A Sundial in a Grave - Mary Gentle.
Historical fantasy
10. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden.
The life of a geisha in Japan from 1929 to the 1950s.
11. Double Disillusion - Rod Quantock.
Musings from a rebel comic. (Very funny one at that.)
12. The Green Mile - Stephen King.
The complete serial in one novel.
13. The Fellowship of the Ring - JRR Tolkien.
First book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. A must-read.
T13

Stem cell research

Stem cell research, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Flicker :: Flickr


2. Styling :: Friday 12-2pm rrr.org.au


3. Episode :: chapter


4. Sexier :: more shaggable


5. Studious :: diligent


6. Mushroom :: magic


7. 8 minutes :: in 8 minutes it will be 9.55am


8. Bald :: head


9. Immunity :: safety


10. Sectioned :: partitioned

from here

The Pope visits Bondi

They've been having World Youth Day all week in Sydney, a huge gathering of Catholics from all over the world. Gridlock in Sydney. Herr Ratzinger, the Pope, was the star of the show but I think, on this occasion, even he was upstaged.
I saw this shot on the morning news and found the original on flickr.

The Pope visits Bondi, originally uploaded by AndrewNez.

Collaboration and Saints

This week's collaboration with Janet. The theme this week was favourite places in the home or yard. A book and a bed - what more could you ask for?

The best place to be curled up with a good book., originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Meanwhile, last night the Saints played Hawthorn who are 3rd on the ladder and one of the two main favourites to take out the title this year. By half time I was ready to turn the TV off. The Hawks were winning comfortably and I thought a whitewash was on the cards.
But.
The Saints' second half was awesome! They kicked 12 goals to 2 and turned a 33 point defecit into a 30 point win. A fantastic team effort.
So, they're still hanging on to that last finals spot.
Go Sainters!

Update: Saints are equal 5th now.

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "What is it?"

What is it?, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Say it don't spray it

Saw this at Kwizgiver's and decided to have a go.

How many people live in your house?
4

Do you like your siblings?
Yes, more so with every year.

What color are your nails?
Kind of pinkish with white edges - ie, natural.

What's your favorite place on earth?
I don't think I've been there yet. Of the places I have been, probably Byron Bay.

Ever punch someone in the face?
No

Did you have a dream last night?
This morning I did, but I don't remember it now.

Where is your shirt from?
The Cure concert merchandise. I have five and I wear them constantly.

Are you mad at someone?
Frustrated but not mad.

Where's your best friend?
Probably at home.

Last place you bought something from?
Coles (supermarket)

Last person you were in a car with?
Besides myself - Georgia

What bank do you use?
Bendigo - not that I have anything in there to use.

Do you like being in pictures?
No

Who's your last missed call from?
Don't know - not a number I recognise.

Ever broken something at someone else's house?
More than likely, usually a wine glass.

Are you a good driver?
Yes.

What's on your mind right now?
Too much negative stuff.

When is your birthday?
April 24th

What kind of cell phone do you have?
Phone, Tele Phone (Licensed to call)

How old will you be in 5 years?
58

Are you a movie buff?
No

If you could move tomorrow would you?
Only if I had to.

Did you like the weather today?
No - cold and wet.

Do you like the outdoors or indoors better?
That depends entirely on the weather. Today - indoors.

How tall are you?
5'6"

If you had to choose an age to remain for the rest of your life what would it be?
Whatever age it was that I was satisfied wth my life.

What's something in your past you wish you could relive?
Riding a motorcycle.

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends?
My weekends are on Tuesday - photography.

Favorite nearby vacation destination?
Queenscliff

How's the weather?
Cold

Does anything on your body hurt?
Yes

What was the last television show you watched?
The football is on right now.

Do you prefer orange or cherry ice-pops?
Neither

Do you like pickles?
Yes

Does your hair still smell like shampoo?
Probably not. I avoid scented shampoos, my scalp doesn't like them.

What's plugged in in the nearest outlet?
Laptop, bedside lamp, clock radio.

What was the last thing you wrote by hand?
A recipe

What's your favorite commercial?
No such thing.

Do you pay attention to celebrity gossip?
No

Have you sang out loud today?
No and that's a sure indication of my mood.

Do you wish it was 4 years into the future, or 4 years back?
Back.

Can you touch your nose with your foot?
Hahahahaha.

Do you prefer paper towels, or napkins?
Does it matter?

Are you currently texting anyone?
No

What was the last movie you watched?
At the cinema? Jeez, I can't remember.

Who did you last high-five?
Dunno, probably a child.

Describe your best friend in 3 words?
Hard-working, family-oriented, supportive.

What is your MySpace song?
My what?

Happy Birthday Dad

79 today. That's him on the left, wandering along the Warburton aquaduct trail a few weeks ago.

Dad and Brian, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Friday Fill-ins

1. If I could be a fly on the wall I would go to any lengths to avoid the swatter.

2. Jealousy is an emotion that can't always be suppressed.

3. When I see a shooting star my wish would be that I hadn't seen it because I only ever see them when someone's died.

4. I'd rather be alive than not any day!

5. Certain songs when I hear them make me wanna dance, sing along, hear more, turn 'em off, depending on what song.

6. If time were in a bottle I'd probably drink it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a drink at the Acorn (we don't go to the Tav anymore, tomorrow my plans include a family dinner for dad's 79th birthday and Sunday, I want to celebrate a Saints win!
FFI

Project Black

Hosted by Anna Carson. Plenty of black in this attempt to do a long exposure at Woolomai earlier in the year.

Just one more from Woolomai, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Signs of Spring already?

Lots of Springy type stuff happening in the jungle - Daisies, Rhodedendron, Lilac. It's way too early for all this. It's technically slap bang in the middle of Winter still.

Another Daisy, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

I even saw cherry blossom while I was out and about.

Weekly Words Challenge

Weekly Words Challenge, hosted by Pickled Beef. The words are "signs" and "graffiti.

This flag is the sign that the bookshop is open. I wish a few more people would notice it!!

Seventy Seven A Boronia Road., originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Out the back of the same bookshop is this storage/junk shed.

This week's collaboration

This week's collaboration was "secret" - that is, pick a photo from Janet's photostream and put it together with one of mine, without letting on which pics are used.
I did three diptychs and couldn't decided between them, so used them all :)

I just thought these two HAD to go together...

Helloooo...loooo.....oooo....oo, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Iconic buildings with domes...


Messages in the sand....

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Intimated :: hinted


2. Brush :: hair


3. Masquerade :: fancy dress


4. Procedure :: process


5. Tattoos :: not for me


6. Square :: root


7. Tuck :: in


8. Boyfriend :: girlfriend


9. Badass :: arsehole


10. Thousand :: M

from here

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "support". This old trestle bridge at Selby is supported by some very old timber. It supports the railway track used by Puffing Billy, an old steam train that chugs through the hills. A very popular tourist attraction in these parts.
More Puffing Billy pics can be found here if you're interested.

Trestle bridge, Selby., originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

And yes, it does support the train....

Friday Fill-ins

1. Oh, I can't wait until I have a holiday.

2. That the light's not working is the first thing I see when I open my refrigerator.

3. I never leave home without my camera.

4. If I were a condiment, I would be a mutant pickle because I'm bitter and twisted.

5. The rudeness of people who don't understand that I don't have an unlimited supply of dollar coins for their laundry is really high up on my list of pet peeves.

6. The last thing I thought of before I went to bed was I think I'll go to bed.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to watching the Saints, who may or may not win, tomorrow my plans include work and Sunday, I want to be warm!
FFI

And the colour is....... black

Another photo challenge seen at The Snapery but originally from here.

Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

The Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo is a large (55 - 65 cm) cockatoo. It is easily identified by its mostly black plumage, with most body feathers edged with yellow, not visible at a distance. It has a yellow cheek patch and yellow panels on the tail. The female has a larger yellow cheek patch, pale brown bill (grey-black in males) and black marks in the yellow tail panels. Young birds resemble the adult female, but young males have a smaller cheek patch.

Thursday Thirteen

My guitar. It's beautiful.

The Maton in all its glory., originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

T13

Age and Beauty

Weekly Words Challenge #43, hosted by Pickled Beef:

Ye olde Tash The Wonder Dog is in her mid 90s in human years. She still walks a few kilometres every day and was even seen to sprint a hundred yards or so a couple of weeks ago.



My Dad, in the centre. 79 next week, still plays 18 holes of golf twice a week. My Mum, on his left, somewhere in her mid-70s, still works part-time as a teacher at the Little Yarra Steiner School.



I don't think I need to post any other pics to represent the beauty.

99 songs I can listen to over and over and over again

Saw this at Janet's, who saw it here. Simple meme - just list my 99 favourite songs. So here goes..... not necessarily in any order though, just as I think of them. Numbers 1 and 2 are interchangeable, but they're definitely my two favourite songs ever.
Ha, I could fill this list with just The Cure and Led Zeppelin but I'll try to throw in a few others :) In fact, just take it for granted that everything by The Cure and Led Zeppelin is already a given....

99. No Quarter - Led Zeppelin
98. Watching Me Fall - The Cure
97. Brother My Cup Is Empty - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
96. Dead Souls - Joy Divison
95. In A Lonely Place - New Order
94. She's Lost Control - Joy Division
93. Last Cup Of Sorrow - Faith No More
92. Lust For Life - Iggy Pop
91. How Many More Times - Led Zeppelin
90. Fascination Street - The Cure
89. Red Rain - Peter Gabriel
88. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
87. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
86. Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
85. Carnage Visors - The Cure
84. Where The Wild Roses Grow - Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue
83. Curse of Millhaven - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
82. Cowgirl in the Sand - Neil Young and Crazy Horse
81. Tonight's The Night - Neil Young
80. Child In Time - Deep Purple
79. Flood - Sisters of Mercy
78. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Black Sabbath
77. Like Cockatoos - The Cure
76. Fearless - Pink Floyd
75. Pushit - Tool
74. Eulogy - Tool
73. Like a Hurricane - Neil Young and Crazy Horse
72. After The Goldrush - Neil Young
71. Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan
70. Jailbreak - AC-DC
69. Just Like Heaven - The Cure
68. Hong Kong Garden - Siouxsie and the Banshees
67. Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This - Eurythmics
66. Achilles' Last Stand - Led Zeppelin
65. Dazed and Confused - Led Zeppelin
64. Hot! Hot! Hot! - The Cure
63. Disintegration - The Cure
62. The Mercy Seat - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
61. Ashes to Ashes - Faith No More
60. Heart and Soul - Joy Division
59. Decades - Joy Division
58. The Lyre of Orpheus - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
57. A Perfect Kiss - New Order
56. Fool's Gold - The Stone Roses
55. Get It On - T-Rex
54. Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd
53. Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd
52. Lucky Man - The Verve
51. Battle of Evermore - Led Zeppelin
50. Killing an Arab - The Cure
49. Get Back - The Beatles
48. Champagne Supernova - Oasis
47. Telegram Sam - T-Rex
46. Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
45. More News From Nowhere - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
44. Are Friends Electric? - Gary Numan
43. The Black Hit of Space - Human League
42. Fade to Grey - Visage
41. Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols
40. London Calling - The Clash
39. Guns of Brixton - The Clash
38. Heroes - David Bowie
37. Ambulance Blues - Neil Young
36. Us and Them - Pink Floyd
35. Close to the Edge - Yes
34. Cortez the Killer - Neil Young and Crazy Horse
33. Helpless - Neil Young
32. Season of the Witch - Steven Stills, Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield
31. Epic - Faith No More
30. War Pigs - Black Sabbath
29. Shivers - Boys Next Door
28. Do You Love Me? - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
27. Happy Christmas/War Is Over - John and Yoko
26. Love Is A Stranger - Eurythmics
25. Children of the Revolution - T-Rex
24. Dominion/Mother Russia - Sisters of Mercy
23. Sympathy For The Devil - Rolling Stones
22. Imagine - John Lennon
21. A Day In The Life - The Beatles
20. When The Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
19. Prayers For Rain - The Cure
18. Primary - The Cure
17. Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
16. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin
15. Ramble On - Led Zeppelin
14. Plainsong - The Cure
13. Blue Monday - New Order
12. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
11. In my Time of Dying - Led Zeppelin
10. A Forest - The Cure
9. Song To The Siren - This Mortal Coil
8. Red Right Hand - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
7. Biko - Peter Gabriel
6. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
5. Lullaby - The Cure
4. Ten Years Gone - Led Zeppelin
3. Atmosphere - Joy Division
2. Pictures Of You - The Cure
1. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Notification :: email


2. Cheat :: card


3. Top Ten :: hits


4. Draft :: dodger


5. Unbelievable :: Wimbledon Mens' Final


6. Cheap :: and nasty


7. Spontaneous :: off the cuff


8. Harass :: stalk


9. Lipstick :: on my collar


10. Transpire :: occur

from here

Wimbledon

Men's Final. Rafael Nadal won over Roger Federer, 9-7 in the fifth set. It was the best tennis match I think I've ever seen. Early on I thought it was going to be a whitewash for Nadal as he jumped out of the blocks and took the first two sets. But a rain delay in the third allowed Federer to get his act together and he came out and won the 3rd and 4th sets, both in tie-breakers. Some of the shots in that 4th set tie=breaker had to be seen to be believed. Just awesome shotmaking. The fifth set was really tight until Nadal broke Federer's serve in the 15th game. He then held his own serve to win 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7. I think Federer just ran out of gas at the end.
A magnificent tennis match.

The downside is that it started at 11.00 or so last night but didn't finish till 6.30 this morning.

Floating

This week's collaboration with Janet. I saw her flower photo (the one on the right) and immediately thought it would match up pretty well with one I'd taken last year. Both pics are titled "Floating" and that really was a coincidence.

Floating, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Saturday Photo Hunt

This week's theme is "pointed". This type of Dahlia is certainly pointed.

Pink Dahlia, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Thursday Thirteen

T13.
Just a little bit late. Nevermind, I'm sure it's still Thursday somewhere in the world. My 13 most favourited photos on Flickr. That is, the ones that other people like best.

Most favourited, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

1. Today's sunset is brought to you from......... Woolomai!, 2. Another Woolomai sunset, 3. Just a little bit of saturation, 4. Balancing act, 5. Free Burma, 6. View from a riverbank, 7. Woolomai sunset #698737387, 8. Caught my eye for some reason, 9. Another long exposure, 10. Red in support of a free Burma, 11. On the mushies again, 12. The ghost, 13. Phone is fired up!

Indeed!

"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted." -John Lennon

Friday Fill-ins

1. Holidays in the summer are such a long way off.

2. Mushrooms filled with garlic and butter are my favorite things to grill.

3. My thoughts are random.

4. No drama is what I'm most looking forward to this weekend!

5. My favorite book so far this summer winter is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

6. Waking up is the best way to begin a day.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to nothing much, tomorrow my plans include work and not much else and Sunday, I want to maybe cook something yummy!

FFI

Faith

Robert Smith at his mournful best. What an incredible place to experience music!!

Sign of the times

Did a quick overnight trip up through the north-east of the state on Tuesday/Wednesday. The thing that struck me most was the devastating effects of the drought. Down here in suburbia we have water restrictions but, other than that, there's no real reminders of the situation. But, out in rural areas it's a very real problem. I saw so many dead trees it was depressing. These were River Red Gums, which are the most magnificent trees in normal circumstances. A very sad sight.

Sign of the times, originally uploaded by jsarcadia.

Even sadder was that every creeek and small river we crossed was empty. I'm not exaggerating here either - every one! Some of the bigger rivers were looking very depleted too.



Eildon Weir is also completely empty. This photo was taken last year but nothing has changed since then. If you look closely you can make out the normal water level marks on the pillars holding up the bridge. There should only be a few feet of pillar showing, not the whole damn pillar!.
Eildon is usually a place for houseboats, water-skiing, boating in general. Not now.