Completely random post

1. I'm using my new laptop! :) Loving the laptop, hating Microsoft Vista. As much as I hate 2007 Office. What was wrong with XP and Office 2003?

2. I'm very short - usually don't mind too much, but my light bulb blew in my room on the weekend. Even standing on a chair, neither my flatmate (who is only slightly taller than me) or I can reach to change the stupid thing! My brother was meant to come over last night to fix it but was busy, and now he is sick (called me today and he sounded terrible, and obviously his health is more important than a light globe, but it's still annoying!) Maybe I should start making friends with some tall neighbours? (I live in an apartment building).

3. I'm hungry, and the orange poppyseed cake I have in the oven isn't exactly a suitable dinner! (Taking it in to work tomorrow). In one of those, "I just won't eat because I don't know what I want and can't be bothered cooking anything" moods.

Swine flu

Unless you been living under a rock for the last week, you will have heard of Swine Flu, which from what I understand from watching Sixty Minutes last night, it is combination of a pig (swine) virus; a bird virus; has been passed from pigs to humans and now can be passed from human to human.

It is officially known as Influenza A(H1N1) and more information can be found on the World Health Organisation website.

Obviously any new disease is a concern, particularly when there is no vaccine. But this is a time when I think the news is doing more harm than good in terms of causing panic.

According to the WHO, as at 06:00GMT 4 May 2009, 20 countries have reported 985 cases. There have been 25 deaths, all in Mexico. There haven’t been any deaths in any other countries.

Obviously it’s upsetting that people have died, but in the grand scheme of things – and this will sound callous - but 25 people really isn't that many. My hearts go out to the families of the people who have died, but the way it is being discussed on the news/current affairs, you would think there are people lying dead in the streets worldwide.

In 2006 there was Bird Flu; and in 2004 there was SARS – and yet we have survived.

In the last week signs have gone up in all the toilets at the uni I work at, saying protect yourself from Flu by covering your mouth when you cough; using tissues; disposing of tissues properly; and washing your hands. Shouldn’t people be doing that anyway? I mean, I work at a university – if people are university students and don’t know to wash their hands and to use tissues – heaven help us.

So far the WHO hasn’t released any information on the economic impact of Swine Flu, but with the economy the way it is, and even just the flu season in general, I think people will be going to
work even when they are sick.

If you are a casual employee and take a sick day, you don’t get any pay, I’ve already heard of a lot of casuals getting their hours reduced so they won’t want to lose any more.

Even if you get sick leave, if you are concerned about redundancies, you may not want to take any sick days in case your boss thinks you are just “chucking a sickie”.

Weekend things to do

I have a fun-filled weekend of work, study and household chores. Actually, that's a lie, I am going to see a Dylan Moran concert tonight. Love his work. I bought the tickets back in January for myself and a birthday present for my brother, so already paid for. I'm getting a bus to where the show is, and I already have a prepaid 10-trip bus ticket. The concert doesn't start until 8pm so will eat before I go... overall cost should be $0.

But seriously, I have so much to do this weekend.... making a list ....

Study
Prep for trust accounting exam
Sit trust accounting exam (online - must complete between Sunday 9am and Monday 9pm - aim to do it Sunday night)
Catch-up on reading for Commerical Law Practice
Work on Tax Course 1 assignment - mainly reading
Work on Tax Course 2 assignment - reading/notes
Reading for Tax course 2

Work
Prep for lecture next week (my first one ever!!!)

Houshold
Washing/ironing - I hadn't ironed for about 2 weeks. Did a basket this morning but have a load of washing on which will also need ironing.
Quick apartment clean - mop/vaccum/wipe surfaces (shouldn't take too long - times like this I like living in a smallish apartment!)

Other
Gym - body pump class
Dylan Moran concert

Financial
List a minimum of 4 things on Ebay (some things I already have photos for so hopefully won't take too long)
Update blog with April summary/expenses

I think that's it! Don't think I'm going to get through all of it but will see how I go.

Frequent Flyer Points

I found out today that I have enough frequent flyer points to get a one way flight from Sydney to L.A. - this would however leave me with basically zero points to get a return flight.

Wonder how long I can stay in L.A. before I am kicked out by US immigration?

ELMO!!!

You'll notice I said in my post Weekly Expense Update that I spent $7.99 on clothes. So what did I buy?

ELMO SLIPPER SOCKS!!!

I admit it, I am a big kid at heart, and love anything cute. As I have mentioned (probably a few times), I moved from the Gold Coast to Sydney at the start of the year, and even though when I moved it was insanely hot in Sydney; generally speaking, Sydney has a lot colder weather. I seem to always have cold feet (wear socks to bed even in summer), so I know when winter comes I am going to have cold tootsies. Enter .... the slipper sock.

Thicker than socks but still in the "sock" rather than "shoe" category, when I saw the slipper socks while grocery shopping on Wednesday night I couldn't resist (I'm starting to sound like an infomercial for slipper socks!)

Aren't they cute?

Below are the tags - you will notice the tag shows they are size 9-12; and on the back it says size 9-12 is for children aged 5-8. Yet they are my feet shown in the first photo. I used to think having small feet was cute .... I'm starting to think it's actually a bit weird when I can fit into sock designed for children 20 years younger than me. But hey, it's a lot easier to find cute socks when you are looking at ones designed for children!

Lazy lazy lazy

I have been so lazy today. I really need to get into a routine. Ever since I started my new job down here, I've been indulging in the luxury of being able to sleep late. (Don't start until 9 and live 10 minutes walk from work). But I'm starting to get concerned at the amount I'm sleeping. I was meant to get up early this morning, put in a solid day studying and then meet a friend for dinner who is up from Canberra for the weekend. What have I done? Slept late, did a tiny bit of study, had a nap, and am now meeting the friend for a late afternoon tea (although in financial terms that will be cheaper!) I will have to study tonight when I get back from afternoon tea. Sad way to be spending Saturday night.

Sleepy

Feeling a bit down today. Not sure why. I've been very tired lately. I'm lucky that I live so close to work that I can sleep in, but I really need to start making an effort to get up earlier in the morning so I can stop running around with a chicken with my head cut off each morning!

Did you know Koala's sleep up to 20 hours a day? Most Australians probably do know that, but I went to Taronga Zoo one last night week for a function, and I saw a poster saying they sleep that much because of the low energy in Eucalyptas leaves. Well I've had a terrible diet this week, but I've been eating more calories than normal - so shouldn't I have more energy?

Oh to be a Koala :) Sleep 20 hours a day and look awfully cute doing so!