Daily Discussion Thread: Thursday, 6 February 2025

Off to an interview i go.
Lets see how this plays out!

Gibson's first night at my place

Had my first therapy session in a long time, yesterday. I'm feeling much more hopeful, as the psychologist and I seem to click really well. It has messed me up emotionally, however, so I'm having popcorn and pop tarts for dinner. Too hot to cook.
TAFE starts again next week, I'm looking forward to getting back into it. It's a fantastic campus and course. These past few months have been so detrimental to my mental health.
My partner has an interview next week as well!! I'm so proud of him!
- hugs , glad everything is looking positive and up for all the Spud fam. 😘
  
  💜💜
- Glad going back went well for you! I am definitely due back, so reluctant to face my many issues but I need to. I’m booking in to get a new MHCP over the weekend.
  Also Mickey ❤️
  
  That was the hard part, actually getting a new mhcp. I have such massive anxiety around making appointments that I just... Don't. Lol.
  But it's definitely worth it! I believe in youuu! 💜💜
- It’s so good to see you back.
  I hope you’re doing well.
  The most important thing to know is what flavour pop tarts, that will determine everything.
  Also Mickey!
  
  Cinnamon!
  But my favourite is chocolate haha
  💜💜
- ❤️❤️❤️

My girlfriend has finally resigned from her job. She's been working in Outside of School Hours Care and it has been an absolute nightmare. The kids have been difficult, she's received little support from the business, and at times the parents have been as bad as the kids.
I'm glad she's moving on and I hope she can find something that works out for her soon
- I've thought about doing OSHC or holiday program stuff, the pay isn't too bad but I think it might be too much for me since it'll make the days extra long.
  But yeah, horrible kids and no support is the worst.
  
  From my perspective the pay doesn't look to great, but then nothing in the childcare space is. This is at a private school as well so you can imagine the sorts of kids she has to deal with.
  And she does split shifts, so she's at work like she works 12 hour days but gets to come home for an extended lunch break
- Is she studying education? She could also try and get a role as a teacher aide, as they're pretty desperate in many parts of Melbourne and Victoria. The state government has their own recruitment portal that's a bit clunky, but there are plenty of jobs popping up everyday.
  
  She has a graduate diploma in early childhood education. That makes her qualified to be an Early Childhood Teacher and work in a kindergarten. I'm not sure if that extends up to being a Teacher's Aide
- I can't understand that industry at all. It costs parents a fortune (I think it was something like $135/day per kid 10 years ago?) but apparently the whole industry runs on a shoestring. Revenue of $16k/week per room of kids, and apparently that amount is barely scraping by.
  I know the front-line workers are seriously underpaid, but someone is making money here.
  
  @Nath @tombruzzo the owners of private childcare centres are making a killing. It's criminal that the educators don't get better pay. What they industry needs is some smart career educators who band together and start a chain of centres as cooperatives.
  
  It's all because of the childcare subsidy. It's free government money, some places only get by because of it, and all the money goes back to management and owners

Got rejected from a niche job that exactly matches my skills and experience after what I thought was a strong interview. Now spiralling and wondering whether I am in fact unemployable. Which I know is over the top. But what do I have to do dammit??? I really thought this one might stick.
- Can you request feedback on the interview? Could it be one of those situations when they already had someone in mind?
  
  I've asked for feedback. They actually asked me to apply, so I don't think there was someone else lined up, but who knows?

Tonight's wave:
So many doggos there tonight I had to fight hard to protect my sunset chicken sammich.
E: and anothery:

Update on the ants in savoury shapes situation:
It didn't end well for the ants.
Left them on the outside sink waiting for them to move on before putting them in the bin and it's now a mass grave.
Hrmm, makes you wonder...
E: which calls for a rave choon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiuWEwDqMoA
- Perfect funeral march lol

I am absolutely ravenous today. Not sure where this hunger has come from. Doesn't seem to match up with my brain that's operating in pure fog and blah. I really don't want to cook, but my mouth ulcers aren't gonna be happy with takeaway or convenience food
- On the house :)
  
  It stings, it stings!!! 🫢🩸
- Do you have any mouthwash? I felt like that can sometimes speed up the healing process.
  
  I probably should get some - my dentist had recommended Savacol. Chemist Warehouse is just across the road...
- Got any sustagen or protein shake or other liquid nutrition. Maybe a slurpee?
  
  No I don't sadly. If I was motivated enough I'd make a soup which I normally wouldn't do in this weather. I think I'll steam these frozen dumplings, soft enough and not too salty or spicy.
  
  have some cool custard or yoghurt
  and hugs

I'm reading some Buddhist teachings on the bus and someone near me is letting off some ball-tearingly eye watering farts and it's spoiling the mood a tad, let me tell you.
- 🤣
- Meditation - Samurai and the Fly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nT7Hlssjik
- Time to practice some of that inner calm
- Sounds like something Zhu BaJie would do. Sun Wu would make him walk 20 paces behind.

I have just witnessed someone cleaning a kitchen/breakroom with a leaf blower.
- Suck or blow? Because some of them can do both.
  
  Like MegaMaid.
  
  A petrol leaf blower.
- Whenever my wife cuts my hair, I blast all the tiny little clippings out by grabbing the ol' leaf blower and aiming it at the top of my head. Electric though, a petrol one would be a bit heavy :D
  Also use it for dusting vents and clearing crud from cupholders and such when cleaning the inside of my car and I CBF running the air compressor hose out or wasting canned air.
  For some people the only tool they need is a hammer. For me, it's a leaf blower :D
  Sometimes I even use it for clearing leaves.
- Mr P did this in the lounge and kitchen once. I came home and wondered, "why does the place smell more than vaguely of petrol? And why is all there a line of dirt and fluff along the skirting of the far wall and floor of the place?" Put 2+2 together and asked him if he did a Caddyshack, which he admitted to lol.
  
  Oh no

I think I may have covid. The headaches, the tiredness, the night fevers, a touch of a cough, red eyes. Thankfully I am upto date on vaccinations
- Lots of rest and water for you, dear Seagoon!! Take care of yourself!
- 🫂 Edit: socially distanced ofc

I think it was ok. The recruiter was nice but it's for a different sector and I don't know if the stigma of IT is going to work against me.
- What sector was it for?
  
  Marketing

I’m going to improvise a peanut-y stir fry
- Kung Pao Leftovers?

I have no energy for anything today, but tea is helping
- here you are, 🍵
- I want to go to bed right now

Good morning starshine
- The Earth says helloooooo
- Good morning moonlight

Great.
Aunty is trying to get me involved again and I’m getting annoyed.
- Stay strong! It really isn't your hassle when push comes to shove. Sounds like Aunty is running out of stalking horses and might (shock! horror!) have to do the insisting herself. Which will probably be good for her soul if not her temper. Is she the executor? Or has she taken this work onto herself without authority?
  
  She’s the executor.
  Im supposed to be “the nice one” in the family as she calls it but it’s only because I didn’t take legal action against her or accuse or of anything even if I have my suspicions.

I made an Aussie 80s playlist for tomorrow. Wang Chung is included because I like that song.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5P03nXRKUFv6Rg4pMkdj9O?pi=_SYzYelHQ2qdf
- Sharon O’Neill is kiwi ?
  
  NZ is another state of Australia. They talk a bit funny is all. Like Queenslanders.
  Seriously we don't discriminate here. What's theirs is ours.
- That’s an excellent list and I’m pleased to see you’ve got uncanny x men in there. Don’t forget the Hunnas
  
  We always add to it during the night. It's just a starter list.

I I put a free thing up on FB and get a message that includes "please do the needful" I am Blocking!
- Maybe i'm a little ignorant but what does that mean?
  
  It's meme level south Asian corporate speak. Odds of it being a real person are statistically negligible.

This is for Transformers fans
https://www.reddit.com/r/SipsTea/s/QVkC4DmIkY
- That is awesome!!!!

What is it with buses today? This morning I travelled with the Fart King, and this afternoon I had a dude try to board the bus with his car. From behind.
- I felt like traffic was really bad this afternoon.
  People more agro than usual.
  
  It was awful this morning too, so must be a day for it

Got rejected from a course today that's my backup career choice. At least there's a course that I'm already in, and if I don't like it, and find that I want to study in the field of rejected course, I can just apply again next year or start the bachelor version of the course to see if I like it.
I'm just scared teaching will destroy me, which is giving me a sinking feeling and it hasn't even started yet. I'm worried about the work-life balance too. But I do like how there are ten-ish week terms and then holidays, because I tend to work with sporadic bursts of energy.
At one of the local schools near me, kids demolished the bathroom wall. I'm slowly convincing myself not to worry about the job until it's actually happened, and will be proactive in learning behaviour management strategies.
In other more exciting news, today I can open my mouth three quarters of the way. Yesterday I could only open it halfway. Good times.

I just found out Tommy Emmanuel is playing Hamer Hall in May! I think I've gotta go...
- I used to deliver the MSO equipment there from ABC. It's got the biggest elevator I've ever seen.
- He is amazing!
- Perfect present for my dad! Thanks for sharing :)

It came on a Thursday
Everything seemed to be holding its breath
- 😆
  
  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wYGbQI4xP1s

there is a new Meep , I love Meep. https://www.reddit.com/r/IllegallySmolCats/comments/1iikz0k/banana_for_scale_meep/

Methinks I’ve made a tactical mistake of doing my laundry so late in the day.
No more sun where I need it though it’s still warm outside.
- It'll be dry by 7am tomorrow even with the nighttime dew.
  
  I’ll leave it out tonight. Hopefully dry before I leave for work, might leave it until I come home tomorrow.

I though the Cassowary was a New Zealand native. Do they have a similar murder bird I'm getting it confused with?
- The Moa ? Now extinct. About 2 metres tall.
- There's three species of Cassowary. The Northern Cassowary and the Dwarf Cassowary are native to Papua New Guinea, and the Southern Cassowary is found in Papua New Guinea and Far North Queensland.
  The Moa was a massive flightless bird native to New Zealand, like an oversized ostrich without the fancy feathers. Went extinct due to over hunting. There were actually four species of Moa, three were quite small, and then the big, tall one that's most well known.
  
  Cassowary
  Saw one when I was at the Daintree a fair while back. It didn't try and murder me which I thought was pleasant.
- You might be thinking of a Moa? Of the ones that still exist a Kea isn't dangerous to humans but certainly is to cars, gutters, etc like cockatoos are

Even tho I have been pretty tired today I managed to get my desk ready again for a new year of study and art practice and projects. 😊

I got some op shop jeans that looked good, washed them, and now they smell like sewage. Washed them three times and even used cleaning vinegar but still stinky.
I could use hot water or Napisan but am already concerned about fading them with multiple washes.
It’s possibly the dye but I don’t know if I want to wear something that doesn’t smell clean and fresh.
- I found water soluble eucalyptus oil solution works wonders. I had some socks that were still smelling a bit foot-like even after a whole heavy duty wash. Eucalyptus fixed it.
  
  buying all the cleaning agents is more expensive than opshop jeans.
  just throw these ones out and buy another pair
  
  Every now and again I need to throw a capfull of white vinegar in with my Gi wash to knock the stank out of it.
  
  Good call, Aldi might have some when I can get there
- Also: check your washing machine isn't causing stinky
  
  The machine is ok, it’s specifically this pair of jeans
- Vodka. Srsly.
  
  Cheap nasty vodka in a spray bottle = home dry cleaning.
  
  Ah I don’t have any alcomahol
  And it’s spenny
- UV (sunlight) can be good for killing smells.
  
  That’s a good idea, maybe if I turn them inside out before sunning that would preserve the colour
- I hope you can wash the stink out. If they fade more that should make them look even more fashion
  
  Me too. I don’t mind a little fading but they were already a bit faded so I don’t want too pale

I may have hired teenage minions. A Bwahaha seems in order.

Beep Beep 🚚
🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍈🫐🍓🍇🍉🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥥🥦🥑🫛🍆🍅🥝🥬🥒🌽🥕🥐🍠🫚🥔🧅🥯🍞🥖🥨🧀🧇🥞🧈🍳🥚🥓🥩🍗🍖🫓🍕🍟🍔🌭🥙🧆🌮🌯🥗🍲🍜🍝🥘🍛🍣🍱🥟🦪🍥🍘🍚🍙🐠🍤🪼🦀🐙 🍗🥮🍢🍡🍧🍰🧁🥧🍦🍨🎂🍮🍭🍬🍫🥜🌰🍪🍿🍯🥛☕️🍵🍺🍶🥤🧋🧃🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🧉🔋
- Potato salad with overdose horseradish please
  
  🥔🥗🐴🥕💊
- Juice box and some onigiri, please? I leave the selection of fillings to your judgement
  
  🧃
  🍙🧃🍙
- Mmm just beer I think. Actually biltong too. Beer and biltong please
  
  🍺🥩

one of my favourite movies is Pleasantville. Such a subtly subversive movie. 😊 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd0Ce0-_pJg