So anyway…

Warning: TIME WASTER!
I found this 20 Questions game LOTS of fun (and I wasted lots of time with it, hehehe).

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The sun on Tuesday unleashed what appears to be the third most powerful flare in recorded history, a storm of charged particles that could hit Earth midday Wednesday with more effect than any since 1989, when power was knocked out to an entire Canadian province.

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Earlier tonight, the power went on on our street. I don’t know why. It was early evening when it went out, and Zoë and Miranda were watching Pocahontas at the time. Andrew was on the train on his way home.
The power went off and I sort of gave a little shout because I was startled. Zoë started to cry mostly because her movie went off, but also because all the lights and my computer went off, and that was just too weird for her to understand. Miranda started to cry because she always cries when Zoë does, pretty much (and she cries when I sneeze, raise my voice, and sometimes when I sing, which makes me think she’s sensitive to certain vocal frequencies, but I digress).
So I had a house that was rapidly getting dark and two sobbing children, neither of whom could understand my explanation that while it was weird, it was nothing to worry about. I took them into our bedroom because it’s got a big window and I figured I could just raise the shade and let what lingering light there was filter in, and cuddling up in bed on a rainy day with no electricity on just seems like a fairly good plan.
Well, they cried off and on for an hour, to make a long story short. I’d get one comforted and the other would start up. It was quite the carnival. Yippee. I called Andrew several times on my mobile phone because the proper phone didn’t work (it’s electric), and he wasn’t answering. I had visions of it being a huge, city-wide power outage, and the trains all stopped… I thought maybe the transmitter tower for the mobile was out or something… Turns out he had his phone in his pocket and it was too muffled to hear the ring.
Anyway, when he came home he brought some flashlights (torches, Australians call them) from where he happened to know they were hiding, and the kids thought that was kinda fun. I suggested we go out to eat since we couldn’t cook anything (the whole kitchen is electric!) and it was dark, anyway. Just as we were leaving, the power came back on. We went out, anyway, mostly because Zoë had been so upset and I knew if we changed plans she’d go absolutely nuts.
So we went out and had a nice meal and went to put Zoë to bed, but she wasn’t having any of that. I think she was still somewhat off balance from the drama earlier. We tried several things to persuade her to sleep, but no. Finally, Andrew said he wanted to go to bed anyway, and she could lie down with him. Fine. Cool. Good idea.
11:40 pm the phone rings. I think to myself, “Who the HELL would be calling me at 11:40 pm?” and started thinking all those, “Oh, no, something awful must have happened!” thoughts, but the machine picked up and hear Andrew’s voice, “Come get this girl, please.”
Yes, he actually CALLED on his mobile, from the bedroom. Zoë was apparently not inclined to sleep in there, either, and she was climbing on him, singing, playing, rolling around, etc. So he called for help. Literally.
She did go to bed after that. Said, “Goo nite,” and happily pulled up the covers.
Is there a point to this? Nope. Not that I’m aware of.

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There’s apparently a campaign to Draft Wesley Crusher for Presdent. Hmmm. I wonder what Wil Wheaton thinks about that… ?

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A Swedish man was jailed in Australia for trying to smuggle eight dangerous snakes, including four deadly king cobras, through Sydney Airport strapped to his legs.

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I have an essay online. It’s basically a “reflection” or something of that sort. It’s spiritual in nature, and it’s most definitely (and I should think, obviously) metaphorical.

The essay uses a diamond ring as the basis for the greater reflection, which is: flaws don’t make something less beautiful, and can actually add to its beauty.

Every now and then, though, some idiot decides that I need a lecture on diamonds and jeweler’s standards and who knows what else having to do with the trade of diamonds and jewelry.
I just always wonder what on earth these people think I’m writing about?! It’s a METAPHOR! Hello?!

Anyway, I got one of those “let me teach you a thing or two about diamonds” emails today. They didn’t include an email address (it figures, doesn’t it?) or I would have most assuredly replied to them and informed them that taking everything literally can be a dangerous thing to do, especially on a website clearly dedicated to things spiritual and intangible.
Honestly, I just have to wonder where these people come from and WHY they feel like I would give a damn about their lofty knowledge when I was clearly just using the object as a metaphor.

Obviously, I understand some things that the painfully literally minded just can’t grasp. Such as, “Don’t send emails to random people on the web if you don’t understand what the website is about”.

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Finally, a software that does exactly what it promises!

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Mmmmmm. Art Noveau…

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Well, it’s official. I am now an Australian citizen.

The ceremony was reasonably boring, but not too bad. I’ve been to worse events (graduations, for example). A few politicians spoke, they had a folk singer guy to entertain before the proceedings and to play for the national anthem, and they had the citizens-to-be come up in groups of about twelve to take the pledge, receive their certificates and some other goodies (the nicest is a small bottlebrush plant that I’ve already decided where to plant).

Afterward, there was a reception with food of various sorts and a representative from the council to take our voter information.

So, do I feel any different? Not really. Well, maybe a little. It’s one more step in my quest to become someone other than I once was, certainly. The name on the certificate of citizenship is different from my old name, and the person I used to be wasn’t an Australian citizen… Dunno if that makes sense. But it’s good. I always wanted to become a citizen, and now I have.

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I present to you an urgent and confidential request: I request your attendance at The 3rd Annual Nigerian EMail Conference. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your distinguished colleagues, learn new marketing techniques, and spend your hard-earned money. Attending this conference demands the highest trust, security and confidentiality between us.

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