jessikast

Just spent six months...

2010-03-17T08:36:43Z

Anyone wanna buy a boat?

Bonus! Convince me it would be a foolish idea to buy an old yacht with the idea of settling it in my garden as some kind of planter.

Funny stuff! For free!

2010-03-17T00:34:43Z

AUCKLANDERS!

At the NZ International Comedy Festival this year, Steve Wrigley will perform his third hour of the award-winning stand up comedy that has made him semi famous. This leaves Steve with a problem, there are two full hours of primo gags and hilarious stories rattling around in his giant head that he must now say goodbye to.

Next Tuesday night, on MARCH 23rd at 7pm at the Classic Comedy Club please join Steve in afarewell to his Billy T Award Winning Show ʻThe First Time’ and his Fred Dagg nominated show ‘Of Mates and Mischief’ as he finally records them to Audio CD.

A few drinks and nibbles will be provided, and entry is of course, totally free. We just want your laughter, and that will come easy.

Please RSVP by this FRIDAY the 19th of March with numbers so we can fit your party in. Bring as big a group as you please, just book them in by emailing sjwrigley@gmail.com or calling the classic on 09 373 4321

We only have 120 seats and they will book out fast so get on the phone or email and book some chums. Every person attending will get a free copy of both CDʼs so who knows, you might just recognize your own laugh.

Many Thanks
The Steve Wrigley CD Record Team.

What: Steve Wrigley’s CD Record
When: Tuesday 23rd March
Where: The Classic Comedy Bar 321 Queen St
Time: 7pm - 9:30pm
RSVP: sjwrigley@gmail.com by Fri 19th Mar, Subject: CD RECORD

****

I've seen this guy at quite a few events at The Classic, and he's genuinely funny (and not just in that "it's so horrifically offensive I must laugh lest I kill someone!" or "...oh, another sex joke! And now one about farts! Okay!") No, he's good, and this is FREE, so book yourselves in!

There's bluebird poop everywhere and that's how I like it

2010-03-16T21:23:03Z

Look what I got delivered to me at work yesterday!

Flowers! With lillies and roses and all things pretty.

AND I got taken out to dinner. (Read also: opportunity to wear a pretty dress and buy new shoes for the occasion. Bonus!)

AND to see Alice in Wonderland, where we took turns being human IMDBs.

Awesomesauce.

Today I am accidentally wearing green. I mean, I wouldn't say no to drinking copious amounts of beer at some point, but the green wasn't on purpose! It was the first clean t-shirt I saw, and so the matching earrings and hair tie are also just chance.

Because I'm in an obnoxiously good mood today

2010-03-11T21:23:56Z

Things that make me ineffably* happy:

The crisp sound of a cold can of diet coke opening
Wearing cute shoes. EVERY time you look down: cuteness!
The smell of hot cross buns
The smell of sea and petrol. This means BOATS.
The day a new season of a favourite TV show premieres
Unchipped nailpolish
Foot rubs
Puppies
A really good pen (and no, I didn't miss a couple of letters there. I really <3 stationery!) And so:
SMIGGLE
Bears, and stories about their scrapes and mischief
Tamora Pierce books: total comfort reading
Good hair days
Learning a new and interesting etymology
Writing something really prettily, like when my handwriting achieves awesomeness of form and elegance
Bacon

*Disclaimer: may not actually be ineffable.

jessikast @ 2010-03-11T17:27:00

2010-03-11T04:32:58Z

I have had, like, FIVE compliments today! From five separate people!

:-D

And they were for mostly different things, which also makes me feel extra good.

I'm cooking Irish lamb stew for dinner and it smells really good. It also has about an hour and a half left to cook :-( That's so long!

jessikast @ 2010-03-09T07:51:00

2010-03-08T21:33:59Z

Because I haven't done one of these in a while (snagged from jocondite)

( 80 things meme )

jessikast @ 2010-03-08T19:57:00

2010-03-08T06:58:07Z

Friday seems aaaages ago. This is what happens when you have a busy and productive weekend!

...okay, so it was busy til about 3pm on Sunday, at which point I crashed and spent the rest of the day reading and trying not to nap.

I have:

Gone ice skating. I didn't fall over! I can't stress enough how awesome this is, and how happy my knees and butt are to be intact and free of bruises. In a group of four girls and two guys, all four girls ended up going quite well, skating at a decent clip and even sometimes stopping in a way that WASN'T just slamming into the side. One guy refused to let go of the side at all, and the other went on the ice for about a minute, then decided that the video games were more fun.
Got a cat door installed. The guy was really awesome and explained the whole making-a-hole-in-glass process, and everything he was doing. Totally recommend him if anyone else needs a cat door!
Hung out some with laputain, which was lovely. We're both in the middle of shiny new romances, so it was awesome to spend some time talking and hanging out and stuff. (Our mutual reaction to the other's x-friend: Yeah, they're nice and I'm happy for you, but...no. Not my thing at all.)
Got fed good food and watched Flash Gordon with my boyfriend. He had never seen it! He had never seen the football fight scene! I love that scene!
Had a picnic
Bought a lounge suite ahahaha. Once it arrives, any cat putting a claw anywhere NEAR a sofa will get squirted with water SO HARD.
Failed so, SO hard at cooking rice. It was kind of embarassing.
Bought stockings and dug out my suspender belt. Mmm, sexy legs.
Finished reading Mercedes Lackey's Reserved for the Cat. Is it just me or is it kind of really bad? Hello? Editor....?
Caught up with Mum and Dad over a normal phone line now they're back in the country and not halfway between here and the South Pole.

Yeah, I had a good weekend and it made me good-moody today, even thought it was a MONDAY.

AWESOME SQUARED

2010-03-05T06:14:41Z

Coming up on TV3 - Adam Lambert on Campbell Live.

Adam Lambert.

John Campbell.

YES PLZ.

My brain needs an oil change

2010-03-03T22:34:17Z

Yesterday my car passed its WoF! Without needing nearly $1000 of repairs! VICTORY! (Of course, it DID need about $200 of various filters and oil flushes and such, but I figure I can indulge it these little luxuries to keep it running as sweet as possible. It also needs a new oil sump at some point to the tune of $1,400 before labour and freight, so I'm hoping I can hold off as long as possible on that then just get a second hand one, which should be ony $400 all up.)

It turns out that having a boyfriend in very short walking distance makes it SO MUCH MORE CONVENIENT trying to get my car in to the service centre around working hours and then trying to get to work without wheels. (I have heard of "public transport" but it requires actally getting up when my alarm goes off. Ha!) It's especially handy when he is a TOTAL SWEETIE and gets up an hour earlier than necessary to drive me in to work. Aww.

On the spur of the moment this week I decided to go ahead and apply for the Graduate Diploma of Information Design offered by CIT. When I was looking at various comms-related diplomas something like a year ago, it was the one I was most intrigued by, but I was put off by the final requirement - a 200 hour internship, which is inconvenient enough to totally negate all the other benefits of studying extra-murally. But I enventually figured: the rest of the papers interest me, and even if I don't complete the diploma I'll still know more than I did before. All I need now is to excavate my desk! This...may be a mission.

Since their website said they start courses in March and July I was hoping I could juuuust squeak into the first semester papers, but it turns out they actually start in February and I'm three weeks late. But that's okay - after I submitted my application to study the programme leader contacted me to say they'd like to have me 'in' starting in July, so that gives me MONTHS to sort out a student loan (if I'm eligible, otherwise...it's just going on the house) and find my desk.

Whee! Learning stuffs! (And right now [Bad username or unknown identity: [personal profile] hazel ]is shaking her head sadly at me and telling me I am a FOOL.)

Ice ice baby

2010-03-01T00:45:46Z

WHERE: ParadICE, Avondale, meet at my place before heading out
WHEN: 8pm, Friday 5th March
WHAT: Icy fun times! Hurrah!
BRING: $15.50 for entry and skate hire, and if you're like me, cushions to attach to soft parts of your anatomy

jessikast @ 2010-02-28T15:06:00

2010-02-28T02:06:43Z

Feeling inspired by watching the olympics, I googled, and it turns out there's an ice skating rink about five minutes from my house. I never knew! Anyone interested in joining me in making a fool of myself? :-)

jessikast @ 2010-02-27T09:06:00

2010-02-26T20:27:20Z

Today aliette_rowan is moving in. At some point I WILL be home in order to, y'know, say hello and welcome and where shall we put things?, but that time is not now.

(I DID have a nice list of chores to get done today. The longer I stay in bed, the shorter and less important they all seem. Oops?)

Last night I went to Spookers with a bunch of people. I was super mega excited, since I'd never been before - my last trip out there ended when we arrived after the last entry. (The person on the phone giving the closing time hadn't thought to mention the final entry time. Rar.)

But we made it this time, and went though the 3D Vortex, Claustrophobia, Cornevil and the Haunted House. It was wicked fun, but the only time I was really freaked out was the 3D Vortex, since it was my first attraction, I didn't know what to expect, and it had some very cool effects. (There were actually a couple of times when I was afraid I'd turn around and find I wasn't holding Alan's hand at all, but something else...) By the time I went through the other places I was laughing too much to get scared, and mostly admired the actors and props. (And was annoyed by the douchebaggery of the douchebags who took it upon themselves to jump out at people in the corn maze.)

I think that places like the Haunted House COULD have been really scary, if they were less...costumey? Like, it was really fun and there were some excellent scares but it wasn't can't-stay-alone-in-the-dark scary, more fun scary. Which is possibly the point, and I did have fun. (And got exercise! There was a lot of walking!)

I don't think much else of note has happened this week, except:
- I've been jogging more, and managed to push through one bit going up a hill where I ALWAYS hit the wall before, go me!
- I totally appove of laputain's new girl and any related shenanigans. So cuuuute!
- I GOT A TRIBBLE.

jessikast @ 2010-02-27T08:38:00

2010-02-26T19:43:20Z

( Cut because I KNOW I'm being smug and annoying )

What....is THIS?

2010-02-24T18:57:27Z

Is it.....a MOTHERFUCKING TRIBBLE?

Yes, yes it is!

Does it MAKE CUTE PURRING NOISES AND VIBRATE? Or, can you set it to "agitated", hand it to an unsuspecting friend, and yell KLINGON!! when it starts to squeal?

Yes, yes it does!

Am I going to call it Fred and love it and pet it and keep it for ever? Yes, yes I will! <333333333333333333333

jessikast @ 2010-02-22T10:16:00

2010-02-21T22:11:09Z

I am feeling a vague sense of victory over the whole weekend, which was enjoyable and in which I Achieved Things. (I think last week I was so busy on Saturday that I got through Sunday and was still "...one more day? Plz?" But this time I did the weekend right!)

(Well, except that I kind of piked on being sociable with fangirls on Sunday. Oops?)

Good bye civilisation, nice knowing ya. Meet...theCHIHUANHA. Part chihuahua, part piranha, all TOOTHY TERROR. If this thing fought a sharktopus, who would win?.

( Cut for content with no substance, and probably no style )

jessikast @ 2010-02-20T18:04:00

2010-02-20T05:23:21Z

Have now actually told children to Get Off My ~~Lawn~~ Driveway.

I feel so old!

So, it turns out that there is a rare size of bed called Long Double, which is as long as a Queen, but as wide as a Double.

Who knew?

Certainly not I! At least, I didn't until I went to go and put my new valance on my new-bed, and it wasn't fitting. So, I got out my tape measure, and lo! I was confused!

So I went back to Farmer and got NO HELP AT ALL as I rummaged through their manchester department, getting more and more confused. (There was a girl who "knew about manchester". She was "on her way". I never saw her.)

Some of the Queen sized sheets and things had different measurements between brands, but nothing matched what I had. And some of the Double sheet sets matched. I think that what I have is a Long Double, and I eventually pieced together something that would fit my bed (buying fitted sheets and pillow cases separately, because they don't even make STANDARD DOUBLE sheet sets, apparently).

They told me I couldn't get my money back for the valance or woollen underlay (the two most expensive items I was returning), which made me annoyed - I only bought them today, and considering that they don't seem to stock what I need AT ALL? A credit note to use in the future would be useless. (Even if they did have a double/long double sized woollen underlay, I'm not going to invest nearly $300 when the bed itself was only $150 and I might upgrade in the near future.)

But! Knowing from my own retail experience that "We can't give you your money back, just a credit note" really means "I'm encourage to tell you that right up until the point you insist because there is actually no practical or legal reason for us to refuse" I did get a manager there and got back my money. Hurrah!

Now I just need to actually find a valance and something like a mattress protector to fit my bed. I'm starting to get the feeling that it might just be easier to pay for a new one in a standard size. :-/

On the upside, my new duvet cover is totally awesome and the sheets match it well! Victory! (It's also WAY TOO BIG for the bed because it's a king-sized duvet, but I care very little about that night now!)

jessikast @ 2010-02-20T12:17:00

2010-02-19T23:23:59Z

Buying a awesomely big new/old bed from a friend: $150

Buying a duvet set, sheets, valance, pillows, duvet, woollen underlay, pillowcases....way, way more than that.

But! I have many awesome new bed things! Hurrah! Now I just need to wait for it to be delivered.

I have also picked up my lawnmower, and I'm about to try it out. I think my lawn is *this close* to achieving sentience and fighting back. And I'm extra glad I took a hayfever tablet today. Wow.

+ My boyfriend had the day off work yesterday, so he came to my office bearing delicious sandwiches of bacon deliciousness and fresh fruit and chocolate and diet coke for my lunch. <333

- The multitude of small children who play on the street where I live have taken to leaving their little bikes and tricycles sitting across the top of my driveway. And they still sometimes treat the driveway as a fun ramp to slide down, which isn't good at ALL. Children playing is fine! But not when I NEVER check behind my car when I'm backing because I don't expect a child to be there, and not when they zoom down so fast not wearing helmets and when I have no idea who the parents are. The guy next door went OFF at some of them the other day for doing the same thing (I think he WAS actually backing his car and got a fright.) Maybe it'll curb them a bit?

+ Calippo frosts. mmmm, icy cold.

jessikast @ 2010-02-17T09:03:00

2010-02-16T20:39:53Z

I'm so having a good week (or two) right now.

Allow me to gloat, using bullet points! (And also try and distract myself from PEOPLE who CALL ME and gaaahhh.)

I will be getting back all the bond from my old place. Hurray, money!
Which will be a good thing to have, because I have been spending A LOT
- on cheap new shoes from Number 1 Shoes, which are high and impractical and <3
- on new bras and things at the Bendon "nothing over $20" sale. Mmm, laaaacy. (And also a sports bra that is a feat of engineering, to make up for all the lace.)
- On new bedding (Farmers "buy one get one free" sale) because I'm getting a queen size bed from a friend who is moving, and this is an excuse for nice new sheets and a duvet cover etc. (Um. I actually need to also buy a duvet. Whoops?)
I have secured a flatmate who is awesome and so much nicer than the random old dudes or skater-boy students who had been showing interest. (At the very least, I'm sure she'll smell nicer.)
I passed the 20kg mark at WW. This means that my favourite jeans fit again. <3333
I got flowers at work from my boss for some work I was doing to get a tender document finished before a deadline. Which was bonus, because making Word my BITCH and turning a document into something pretty with the adrenalin of a deadline? Totally fun.
Puppies.
I have been pleasingly social!
- I spent most of the weekend with my boyfriend (!), including a splendid Valentine's Day which included pancakes with banana, bacon and maple syrup for breakfast (<3), a trip to a market (shiny jewellery was purchased! <3), and an adorably so-ugly-it's-cute Where The Wild Things Are stuffed toy as a present (<3) and Wolfman (not so much <3, unfortunately).
- Monday night Laputain came around to watch Leverage with me. I'm torn between sad that the season's nearly finished, and imagining the awesome that would be Maggie, Sophie and Stirling teaming up to stage an intervention for Nate.
- Last night I caught up with my best friend from primary school - god bless Facebook for making such things possible. We haven't seen each other in about ten years, but it was so much fun to spend time with her - in some ways she hasn't changed at all, but she's also GROWN UP. Weird!
- Tonight I'm going to try cooking dinner for Alan - he keeps on feeding me nice food, so I feel I need to try and return the favour. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to end up serving half-burnt, half-raw chicken or something.
Kittens. (I was shanghaied into the cat adoption area on Saturday at the SPCA - there was the one fluffy little ginger fellow who kept on running up to me and meowing and putting his little paw against the glass. Omfg, his little faaaace! Was so close to tucking him in my pocket.)
Diet Coke. I'm just generally thankful for its sweet aspartamene nectar of LIFE AND CAFFEINE.
New seasons are airing of Project Runway AND Tabatha's Salon Takeover AND ANTM. <3

Internet....whut??

2010-02-11T00:23:34Z

There are times when I am not sure whether to laugh or cry at what the internet brings me. All I am sure of is that a)I'm staring at my computer screen with my jaw literally dropped, and b) things wil never be the same again.

( NSFW Regretsy find )

jessikast @ 2010-02-07T22:48:00

2010-02-07T10:02:09Z

So, I just changed my "relationship" status on Facebook - it's kind of ridiculous what levels of new and confusing etiquette social networking has generated. Like: he changed his status first, but without actually mentioning it to me, which is like a THING, but then I didn't bother mentioning to him that I was going to change mine, because he had already changed his, so. IT'S SO RIDICULOUS.

But, yeah. I seem to have got myself a boyfriend? Are we at the stage of calling each other "x-friend"? I don't even know. But it's fun! And he's geeky and sweet and intelligent and I'm quite charmed. (He bought diet coke to have at his house JUST FOR ME. <333)

I have spent most of my weekend either hanging out with the boy, who very inconveniently doesn't have a lj/dw user name, or working on some DIY-type stuff. A broken nail later, I have sanded and polyurethaned my front door, put up shelves, and tidied a whole bunch of stuff. Including putting my shoes away, which is a big deal. I have lots of shoes. (Even after throwing away a couple more pairs, and selling the shoes off my feet to a lady at work - they were like new and fit her better than me, and I didn't have far to walk barefoot to get home!)

Oh, and I also acquired a table from trademe, so should I ever decide to eat somewhere other than on my knees while watching TV, I have options. Go me!

jessikast @ 2010-02-06T10:52:00

2010-02-05T22:13:34Z

Hee, Whaddya Want From Me just came onto C4. I am always amazed when things I've seen on the internet turn up in Real Life. Oh, Adam Lambert, you do emo so prettily.

The guy I've been dating sent me a link to Star Trek LOLcats

To whit:

I may have squeed A LOT. The little kitten can't change the laws of physics! Awww! (There is also a picture of a kitten with a bat'leth. Heee!)

My parents are heading off today to Antarctica, for their second attempt at actually getting there. I hope they do! And also take many pictures.

I am spending the weekend sanding (I bought lots of sandpaper. The varnish remaining on my front door doesn't stand a CHANCE.)

( Cut for weight and girly stuff )

jessikast @ 2010-02-03T20:47:00

2010-02-03T07:54:43Z

Ahh, Auckland summers: when taking off your bra is the best part of the day.

When I get a flatmate I am so going to miss just closing the curtains and walking around naked. :-(

And since I appear to be ridiculously tired, I am going to have an Early Night. (Especially since tomorrow night is Daph's gig, so a late night.)

Attn Aucklanders: FLATMATE WANTED

2010-01-25T08:03:09Z

You or anyone you know looking for a flat?

My house is awesome and I am awesome and living with me would be awesome.

Listing on TradeMe

A friend or a friend-of-a-friend is obviously my preference when it comes to finding a flatmate, so keep me in mind if you hear of someone looking. :-)

jessikast @ 2010-01-24T09:42:00

2010-01-23T20:46:21Z

Created by Recipe Star

jessikast @ 2010-01-23T22:40:00

2010-01-23T09:51:31Z

I am exhausted (again) and I have a whole extra day of all these moving shenanigans to go through.

But! Moving today went painlessly, with the moving guy turning up on time and only taking an hour all-up, which is excellent.

I have my bedroom unpacked and also my study/library. Both rooms seem bigger with furniture in, especially my bedroom. I can easily upgrade to a queen-size bed with no sacrifice of space, hurrah!

My study is so awesome! It looks out to green trees and it kind of makes me want to take up writing novels, because it seems like the kind of room in which such endeavours should take place. I have almost all my books unpacked with shelf space to spare, but I haven't unpacked any ornaments or action figures yet, so I suspect another set of shelves will need to be purchased. What a chore.

I have beautiful new whiteware, and am *this close* to buying a new lounge suit and a big new bookshelf - I mean, it's all going on the mortgage anyway!

Deja Vu has, after several hours confinement, proven she knows where the litter box is, and is now on her second round of the house: the first was to see if there were any threats or evil hidden kitties, and now she is marking things as hers and, awww, has just settled down in the middle of the living room floor and half closed her eyes in that contented cat way.

My shower is teeny but has a higher head than my old one and also better water pressure. I can live with this!

I think I also achieved manhood today, when I was standing at the bbq with my father, beers in hand, and he finished instructing me in the ways of grills and sausages, and handed me the tongs.

Telecom did their job in the timeframe promised, and I have broadband at a speed comparable to the highest speeds I received at my old place.

I still have a bunch of cleaning and unpacking and odd-jobs to do, but I got a ton of help today from Mum and Dad and laputain, and all in all it's been a pretty good day. I <3 my little house the more I'm in it, and the more of my belongings I unpack.

And now since it's all of a sudden nearly 11pm, I am going to go and try out my first night here. Hurrah!

(P.S. I love all the birds around here. I hope I don't end up hating being woken by a dawn chorus!)