I'm feeling low today. Normally I would't even tell you and mostly people who can see my face already know. I have called myself a duck lately (yes and a chicken too.. nice bird theme going on) but for a duck, i have terrible trouble letting water run off my back. On one hand, I understand the personality of the person I attribute my grief to but because I am one of the people who she aims her shortcomings at, I feel deflated and angered and disappointed at her lack of maturity and wisdom. but anyways. I'm where I am to learn the lesson and I'm just as bad for not learning it. If lessons were easy to learn, we'd all angels and where would THAT get us. or something. Other news: My lovely cousin Kristy and her husband are expecting their first child any minute. She's in Hospital and her husband hasn't txt'd me for several hours so I will make the assumption he's very busy so that's great. Cousin sounds like some distant relative - but in our case, they are more like siblings, having our families grow up together. I'd be there right now if I had a car. My car is at the Panelbeater. The assessor can't come til tomorrow. Wheels grind slowly - it's taken ages to get this far.. two weeks, in fact. I had a nice phonecall from an internet friend last night. (knows he's reading this so keeps talking as if he's not here) I left him my number, never thinking he'd call. But he did, and it cheered me up somewhat. I don't think either of us can be arsed meeting up with each other, even though we work 4 blocks apart in the same town. But the phone call was nice, and a big chunk of what I needed last night so Captain Black* - thankyou. * that's his real name. Mr and Mrs Black's son, Captain. for those of you who missed the Tui Awards, the winners are: Album of the Year, Best Group, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, International Achievement: The Datsuns - The Datsuns. Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year: goodshirt - Sophie. Best Solo Artist, Best Female Vocalist, Highest-selling NZ Album: Bic Runga - Beautiful Collision. Best Male Vocalist: Che Fu - Misty Frequencies. Highest-selling NZ Single: Katchafire - Giddy Up. Best Urban Album, People's Choice: Nesian Mystik - Polysaturated. Best Dance Album: Salmonella Dub - Outside the Dubplates. Best Roots Music Album: Trinity Roots - True. Best Jazz Album: Kevin Clark - Once Upon a Song I Flew. Best Classical Album: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - Douglas Lilburn: The Three Symphonies. Best Mana Reo Album: Ngahiwi Apanui - E Tau Nei. Best Mana Maori Album: Upper Hutt Posse - Te Reo Maori Remixes. Best Pacific Island Album: Pacific Soul - Pacific Soul.

I saw a pod of dolphins while I was on the ferry on my way to work this morning. (okay so, I didn't have my camera with me, and I wasn't *this* close but they were jumping and frollicking about and there were lots of them and Rangitoto Island was in the background so this snaffled picture will do for now) THINGS THAT ARE MAKING SENSE TO ME TODAY It's not difficult to become a farmer, but it is difficult to remain a farmer. What does a dog understand about rats and mice? That will take care of the mice, said the farmer as he set his house on fire. The strength of a tree lies in its roots - not its branches. Where there are people there are customers Meaning: One of these obvious ones, exhorting us to go where the business is! Similar to: Early to bed, early to rise, work like a dog and advertise. If it were a dog, it would have bitten you already. Meaning:Said to someone who is looking for something which is right under his nose. Don't replay a losing game. If you're not doing the cooking, you can't give away the spoon.
When old dogs bark, it's time to watch out. Meaning: Pay heed to the warnings of those who are experienced. You've got to stare the cat down out of the tree. Meaning: You've got to let some things work out for themselves. It is better to ride for half a year on a good horse, than to spend your entire life riding on a mule. Drag and Compare - way cool!

Life support turned off for Possum 28.04.2003, 7.30pm Critically injured New Zealand rally driver Possum Bourne was tonight taken off full life support at the intensive care unit at Dunedin Hospital. A statement issued by Bourne's family said New Zealand's top rally driver had suffered a severe brain injury in a car crash on April 18 and had been actively managed since then. ...more Unbelievably sad.

phys�i�og�no�my n. pl. phys�i�og�no�mies The art of judging human character from facial features. Divination based on facial features. Facial features, especially when regarded as revealing character. Aspect and character of an inanimate or abstract entity: the physiognomy of New England. phre�nol�o�gy n. The study of the shape and protuberances of the skull, based on the now discredited belief that they reveal character and mental capacity. I bought a book today. I love children's books, especially for their wonderful illustrations (yay picture books). I walked with Rosie to Whitcoulls' Corner today. She was looking for a specific book and I was following with no intention of purchasing anything. (I have to make that decision before I go into a book store or i'll just buy far too many things). I spotted a lovely book (judging books by their covers which is one of the reasons I don't like libraries) called Memoriam, by Gary Crew and illustrated by Shaun Tan. A sombre, but uplifting look at memories and remeberence. Of oral history and the ties that keep families strong. And the common thread of war throughout the generations of a family, marked in time by a large Moreton Bay Fig tree planted the year the story tellers Great Grandfather returned to Australia from World War One. The illustrations are so powerful and understated. When I got home tonight, I realised that The Red Tree, a book I had purchased a few months ago, was also illustrated by Shaun Tan. He really does a fabulous job. If i could bring myself to distroying a book, I'd frame these pages, and hang them on my walls so I could see them all the time. Makes me wish I was a much better draw'r. Speaking of which - I'm missing it. (side steps a classic excuse for a sexual enuendo) Drawing. (knows what you were thinking, Graham) There is a course of Life Drawing up at Selwyn College starting.. um. tonight or.. tomorrow night *typical, michelle - no car* or a shortcourse up at AUT for four times the price, but i could walk there.