freeway synchronicity

After an absence of some 4 or 5 years, and now equipped with the brand new Mazda, I decided yesterday to pay a visit to an old favourite, the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, on the wrong side of the West Gate. What a nightmare!

Not the museum, which I loved as much as ever, but the trip there and back!

I'm not so comfortable driving in city traffic at the best of times, so I timed my travel to occur after the morning peak, expecting a reasonable journey across the bridge, only to find it was almost bumper-to-bumper, due to extensive roadworks and a 60kph limit through to the far side.

Worse tho, was the enormous number of heavy trucks using the freeway. I was in a constant state of alarm all the way, with huge semis overtaking on the right and left and bearing up from behind, generally travelling a little faster than I was, and leaving little room to manoeuvre in case of emergency. I was in a sweat by the time I arrived at the Point Cook turnoff... and every time subsequently that I thought about the trip back home again!

... Which was, if anything, even worse! The freeway and bridge journey was just as stressful, but due to the roadworks and bizarre signage, I was unable to ascertain which exit to take.

Finally, concerned that I was about to be trapped into using the pay road, I veered off the freeway into a part of South Melbourne that I had never known existed! It took almost 20 minutes, stuck in heavy traffic at only 2:30pm, and following well-disguised detour signs, before I found my way to a familiar stretch of road, and could confidently set a course for home!

Coincidentally, the very next morning, I found an article in the Age describing my own driving nightmare of the day before, so I'm not the only one shellshocked by the experience.

Unfortunately, it's likely to be a loooong time before I venture across the West Gate again... at least, not before all those roadworks are complete!

summer surprise

So having started Saturday so unbelievably early, we'd managed to make the trip all the way to Berwick, trade-in the beloved old 121, collect the gorgeous new 2, stop by the rellies to show off the new wheels, and still make it home to 3183 by 1pm!

By 1:30 pm, I was ready to either do something, or I'd have to come to a dead stop and go back to bed to catch up on my missed sleep-in.

A quick check of the session guide showed little of interest at the movies, but there was a session of something called '(500) Days of Summer' starting at the nearby George Cinemas at 2:15. There was no time to waste; a decision was made to avoid taking a nap and take a chance on the movie, and off we went! We arrived in perfect time, and with low expectations.

But the movie was lovely! Sure, a romantic comedy, but not too much like all the others.

The stars were cool and interesting (the kid I'd last seen on 3rd Rock, all grown up and with a haircut, and the leading lady from Yes Man), the plot was different to the usual romcom, it had an interesting time-switching gimmick, so that the story jumped back-and-forward around the length of the relationship (the 500 days), there was some funny comedy, and an unexpected ending!

Early on, I was thinking it was going to be a 4-star effort, but it faded a little towards the end, so I reckon it gets a 3&1/2, but still a surprising and entertaining movie that I was glad I went to see.

And I stayed awake throughout, which was a major achievement, considering how tired I was!

bringing home baby

Well, today was the BIG day! An unheard-off 7am alarm to start off a Saturday, so that I could get across to Berwick to collect the new car at 9:30. I even managed to get there 15 minutes early! (That's what happens when you're too excited to sleep properly!)

I've never had much interest in cars before, but my little Mazda 2 is just *beautiful* to look at, and drives like a dream! Not to mention features that I've never had in a car before, like central locking, power everything, and an MP3 jack!

I detoured by my sister's home and my mum's to show off the new baby, then headed home, via High St Road.

The trip was uneventful, until a moron in a pickup truck decided to change into my lane, while I was still there. Apparently never having heard of a rear-view mirror, and not being partial to indicators either, he just started to veer across into me. I slammed on the brakes, which happily worked perfectly, and we missed contact by about 2 cm!

I then applied the horn, to make him aware that I was there. He just took advantage of my slow-down to complete his change of lanes and zoomed off. No manners. But at least, also no contact.

I headed for home as quickly and carefully as possible, and got the new baby safely parked in her spot. Can't wait to take it for another spin tomorrow.

another thing I hate that other people do

So I found a comfortable seat in the very large and sparsely-attended theatre at the Dendy Brighton to see Funny People today.

The shorts showed, the lights dimmed, the curtains drew back, and the feature began.

5 minutes later, a teenage couple rocked in. In the whole, large, cinema, maybe 5% occupied, they sat directly behind me, and to the right.

She was one of those people who found even the credits so funny that she had to (literally) scream with laughter. Apparently, she came expecting a comedy, and didn't stop screaming with mirth until the first leukemia scene.

He liked to put his knee into the back of the seats and shake them every few minutes. After about 30 minutes, I started to detect an unpleasant odour in the air, and realised that his stinking sneakers were planted firmly atop the seat next to mine, at nose level.

Naturally, they hadn't bothered to switch off their mobiles, which rang 3 times during the film, prompting more hilarity from them.

I know; I should have just gotten up and moved away, but it was dark by then, and would have been hard to find a new seat, especially without getting in other people's way.

I just can't believe how often these morons choose seats so close to me - it's like I become a dickhead magnet at the movies! From now on, I'm sticking to arthouse only!

funny strange, people

Having been beaten down by a succession of Winter viruses and bugs, I haven't actually made it out to see a movie in around 5 weeks or so, so I was keen to make the effort today. Unfortunately, my choice of movie was only showing at (ugh!) Hoyts and (ugh!) Village cinemas, or the least Palace-like of the otherwise-lovely Palace chain, the Dendy Brighton. I chose the latter, and made my way down to charming old Brahghton to see Judd Apatow's latest, Funny People.

Luckily, I'd seen the reviews, so even though the movie stars Seth Rogan, Adam Sandler and a host of comedy movie regulars, I knew that it wasn't actually a comedy itself, but a drama about comedians; an interesting concept, and one handled almost well by Apatow.

I really don't quite know what to make of this one. It had lots of terrific elements. I love Seth Rogan and Leslie Mann; I've never liked Adam Sandler, but he wasn't too bad this time out; Eric Bana's role was fabulous - it was amazing to see references to Aussie Rules footy in an American movie, and to hear a real Australian actor playing an actual Australian; there were some nice laughs from the huge range of supporting comedians - though if I ever hear another unfunny dick joke again, it will be too soon!; and the overall storyline was original and intriguing.

But... something didn't quite work. I think maybe it needed a really good editor. It went far too long for a film of this nature - approaching 2 & 1/2 hours; to the point where I was looking at my watch at times, wondering when it would ever end. It was as if a really good movie had been swallowed by a mediocre one... if the film had been tightened up a lot, and more of it relegated to the deleted scenes section of the forthcoming dvd, it could have been a lot better.

As it was, I was glad to get out of the theatre (although more on that in the next post!). I didn't hate it; there was enough good stuff that I'll probably see it again on dvd - because I can fast forward that way! This one's tough to rate, but I reckon it gets *** for trying.

zoom, zoom, zoom

Well, here's another item off the bucket list!

After finally overcoming my phobias, at long last, yesterday I bought my first-ever brand new car! I still can't believe it; and given that I can't actually collect it until next weekend, the whole experience is still feeling a little surreal... I have to keep reminding myself that it's true.

I've never been terribly interested in cars, but this time, I'm so excited that I can hardly sleep. Today, I cleaned out my 'old' car, in preparation for next week's trade-in... this is going to be a loooooooong week! That little metropolitan grey Mazda 2 is the most beautiful piece of machinery that I've ever seen :-)

no-good deed appeal

Great to see the AFL Tribunal treat Chris Judd's gouging / pressure point tactic / lies with the contempt they deserve and put him out for 3 weeks. I can hardly believe the arrogance of Carlton in going back to appeal the case, though.

Judd himself displayed no remorse or indication that he understood that he had done something stupid, dangerous and wrong on the footy field, and a successful appeal would only affirm in his own tiny mind that he didn't.

There's no doubt that Carlton has the arrogance to appeal the decision. One can only hope that if they do, the Tribunal considers the malice aforethought that must gone into the attempted assault, and has the power to increase the penalty still further. No good could come of Judd weaseling his way out of this one.

second scoop

Having recently become a big fan of Scarlett Johansson (thanks to her appearances in the Spirit and Vicky Cristina Barcelona), I picked up a copy of one of her earlier films, Woody Allen's Scoop, on blu ray, and watched it tonight.

I first saw Scoop at the Nova, when it was originally released in early 2007.

I was mildly annoyed and distracted at the time by Johansson's Woody-esque accent and presentation in the film, and I didn't appreciate the film so much... but now, more kindly-disposed to the actress, I watched again (in beautiful HD), and quite enjoyed it.

A decent murder-mystery, some good humour (tho' never laugh-out-loud funny), an interesting cast (including Hugh Jackman, Woody and the gorgeous Scarlett), the clever plot device of the ghosts and the ferry on the Styx - made for a pleasant 100 minutes of light entertainment. 3&1/2 stars for this one.

no-good deed goes under-punished

Is Chris Judd on drugs? Has he seen too many of those AFL ads showing players competing in other sports?? Or is he just retarded??

To grin and tell a camera that he wasn't trying to eye-gouge, but just find a pressure point to maim another player who was already flat-out on the ground defies reason. Here's a man who's been made a hero to thousands of kids and dim-witted Carlton supporters, and he not only shows himself to be a brainless thug, in full view of the tv cameras during a footy final, but then owns up to it in a post-match interview, as if he was simply employing a regular tactic that anyone would expect to see in a game.

And the result? A 2 match suspension. Pathetic.

He's gotten away with it this time; he'll do it again. But maybe next time, he'll refine his tactics and make sure the camera isn't watching when he attempts to cripple an opponent behind play.

Thugs like Judd need to be taken right out of the game, no matter how well they play it or how much money is behind them, before they do irreparable damage to the game and/or another player.

silver lining

Well, the footy didn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped yesterday, but look on the bright side... Collingwood improved its performance by 10 goals from the last time they played St Kilda. If they keep improving at that rate, there's still hope...!

viewing daisies

Since I've been stuck at home in the evenings for most of the past month with this accursed virusy infectiony thingy, I haven't been able to get to the movies, so I've turned my attention to some good tv-on-blu ray. A little behind the times perhaps, but I've finally caught up with a show called Pushing Daisies.

I've watched it each night this week, and really enjoyed it... you never quite know what to expect, though the 'lovers can't ever touch each again' thing is starting to wear a little thin!

Aside from that, it has a great cast of characters - especially Ned, Emerson and Olive - and a fantastical look (presumably 99% CGI, but very Baz Lurrmann-ish)... plus interesting and surprising plots, and some occasional singing! What's not to like? Bit of a shame that it lasted only 2 seasons, but I'll enjoy it while I can.

countdown to peace

It's 70 years today since this country followed blithely in the footsteps of mother England, and declared war on Germany. This is a mark.

3 days earlier, war in Europe had resumed in earnest, when Germany launched an unprovoked attack on neighbouring Poland, after having already annexed Czechoslovakia the previous year. The war would grow to involve dozens of nations around the globe, on many fronts, and drag on for six long years, causing untold death, misery, destruction and loss.

Those of us, now the majority, born in the post-war era, can never imagine the hardship that people went through in that time. It's hard to even imagine the duration of the stress and suffering.

If that war had begun today, in 2009, we would be caught up in it from now until September of 2015!

The next 6 years will produce a succession of 70th anniversaries or wartime events, many sad, some uplifting and memorable.

During that time, I'll keep note of what happens in my life, and imagine how much of that I might have lost if I had been born 70 years earlier, and remember to be grateful that I haven't had to live through a nightmare like World War II.