Gather up your jackets

Something I learnt today: Strip and keep disarms
Something that made me laugh today: learning the damn things.

Hello all. It's been a while, I'm so sorry.

I've had the most hectic few weeks.

A pub crawl with Daina
It's been so long since I've hung out with this girl. So me, Gem, Daina and Simon went on a crawl through random places which was so rudely interrupted by Gemma and I stopping for ice cream at about midnight. New Zealand Ice Cream at Crown Casino stays open until 3am. I guess people like me make a market for such nonsense.

Long Drive
Well, wasn't this an adventure in itself? At 10am on Tuesday I jumped in a car with four people I hardly knew and exited it 26 hours (24 of which I was conscious for) and 900km later. We went to Weribee, Geelong, Lorne and Ballarat, among other places. We took lots of photos and the entire time I was dressed up as a skanky elf (of the Christmas persuasion). Why? So we could make "ho ho ho" jokes that wound up getting left out of the photo book. That was annoying.

Dave
So Dave was part of the long drive team. Met him on Friday, long drive on Tuesday. Apparently I "had [him] at hello." Aww. Ain't he sweet?

Black List
We won black list again. Damn we're cool. Rock up at C's house with Gem. Some random guy says "I can do that, someone come with me." I volunteer Gem and myself to go with him. On the way to the car I learn his name is Hamish. We spend the next four hours and 150km chatting to the guy and contributing to the wonderous victory.

The Par-tay!
The 21st birthday party, after just *that* much effort, finally occured. The cake was tasty, everyone loved the music, and a good time was had by all. I really enjoyed it and loved all my presents (thanks guys!).

Frank's
Ahh. Frank's Family Fun House. We went up on Friday night and drank a little before Linda gave guitar lessons and I gave nunchuku lessons. Then we played poker and I managed to lose my mother (woot) to Shirely with three fours. The next morning we played with dogs, played tennis, rugby and taekwondo/kickboxing (take your pick) before driving around Frank's I don't even know what you'd call it. Dune buggy or something. And then I went to work. That made me sad.

Assessment
Since the party I've been studying for a test on Monday (which until 10pm Sunday I thought was on Tuesday) and another on Friday and then doing the assignment that's due tomorrow. And last Sunday I graded at Sticks (am now a green belt).

Well. That was all poorly written and so incredibly summarised. But you know, I needed to catch up. Anyone who requires more specific details will just have to see me in person.

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

Something I learnt today: A 9 year old named Will won my teddy bear
Something that made me laugh today: Judi trying to use a digital camera

My computer has not been in the mood for blogging of late.

Anyway...I turned 21 yesterday. Go me. It was a wonderful day. It started with a genetics lecture followed by sudoku in union, shopping, stealing free pens (and other random stuff) from the careers expo with Shirley, crashing the AA bbq, making canpakes at Dj's and then hanging out with my sister. What a day.

Buying the can-pake mix was a bit of a disaster. Shirls and I went into the supermarket, Sabrina and Dj waiting outside for us. We exit and find they've disappeared. Marlene arrives and says that Dj has gone to the bathroom. We wait.

15 minutes later I hear him say "Happy Birthday Jude" and I sigh. It was about the 20th time he'd said it during the day. Everytime there was a lull in conversation...Happy Birthday Jude! But this time a bunch of bright and beautiful flowers are thrust in my face, followed by Max Brenner truffles. Yum. It was apparently all Sabrina's idea. Thanks Sabrina. I only met her yesterday, so she's doing well.

I should point out that my party isn't for a few weeks, and people are waiting until then to get me stuff. The flowers were the second present I'd actually recieved that day outside the family. The first was the freddo frog from Marlene's lunch.

What was worth a laugh though was the warning that came with the pedometer's Shirls and I acquired at the careers expo. The operation manual that comes with the thing reads as follows:

1) This stepping meter can only count correctly under the flat plant.

2) Under the following condition, the stepping meter can't count correctly:

- Moon walking, Wearing Sandal

- When walking in the tricky condition.

- Vibration without walking

Now I can't get out of the quote mode.

Ooh. I'm so smart.

Today, at Ronald McDonald House, the party continued. I rock up (a little late mind you) and Shirl has made lunch including the most spectacular cake (my Mum doesn't even make me birthday cakes anymore), jen's bought flowers and a gift voucher, Judi's bought me a necklace (lovely little topaz).

Not to mention the phone calls, the smses and all the hugs and well wishes (one of which was from a passing construction worker).

Thanks to all who were involved.

Long live living, if living can be this.