MISS: I wouldn't recommend standing there too long. Unless a cute backpacker named Marco is beside you, but damn he's aloof. What happened to the amorous Italian stereotype?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
SWELL
There's a nice beach side sculpture fest going on at Currumbin Beach at the moment, from September 11 - 20. Last week, I headed over for a sneak preview. I'll be going again today for lunch with The Lady Who Got Me The New Job (caps to indicate reverence). I shall grade them with my professional art experience and witticisms, having won First Prize in Art during Standard 1, even though Ye Lao Shi said I wouldn't because the pencil sketching is showing under the paint! (True story)

MISS: I wouldn't recommend standing there too long. Unless a cute backpacker named Marco is beside you, but damn he's aloof. What happened to the amorous Italian stereotype?
MISS: But only because the fat dude ruined the moment.
HIT: This is Currumbin Rock. It's usually a sedate rock-y colour and surrounded by budding surfers. It was here I first vowed to never mount a surfboard again.
On a closer look, I discover it's not alien fungus after all. These are the bottoms of plastic bottles, painted and cut. Very third grader, but the overall effect is awfully cute.
HIT: Scrap metal bike.
HIT: Giant bronzed feet with vague yet conspicuous religious connotations. These are huge! I tried taking a picture of my own foot with them, but being 5' tall has blessed me with stumpy legs that don't reach far enough. Well anyway, my foot would be about the length of the little toe.
HIT: How can anyone not love the giant band aid? If you squint, you'll notice they even thoughtfully put a giant cotton pad in the middle.
SO/SO: Metal lady with awkward breasts and unlady-like seating habits.
MISS: Made me think of a vacuum cleaner from the 70s, when I was a wee little egg sitting patiently in my mum's left ovary (I've got a 50% chance of getting it right anyway). Unless she's got a third one... Mum? MUM!
HIT: Creepy fetal bronze thing with extremely anti abortionist feel to it, that says your babies WILL HAUNT YOU.
HIT: I like it though it makes me think of crappy reality shows like Dancing With The Has-Beens Stars or Australian Idol.
MISS: I suppose it would look better mounted on a wall. Before I finally got the hick family to move it, the fish were surrounded by about 15 children and 3 adults. I guess the first criterion for exhibits would be durability. Please tick YES or NO for the following: 'Is your sculpture child proof and likely to survive curious fingers?' 'Is it possible you will face legal action if the pointy edges happen to stab some kid trying to hang off it and it's YOUR fault because you didn't put some obvious sign like DO NOT HANG OFF GIANT FISH, FINS MAY STAB YOU IN THE FACE?' Remember hot coffee at Mc Donalds? Or was it tea?
MISS: Also probably more suited for wall mounting, me thinks.
HIT: My personal fave. The whole world on a tree thing is supposed to send out some tree-hugging message, I guess.
MISS: I wouldn't recommend standing there too long. Unless a cute backpacker named Marco is beside you, but damn he's aloof. What happened to the amorous Italian stereotype?
Labels:
Events
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The queerest conversation I've ever had
... was discussing the pros and cons of a vibrator with the saleslady in an adult shop. The queerness is magnified by the fact that:
a) Said vibrator is lilac ("Do you have it in any other colour?" "Well, we sold out the pink ones.")
b) She urges you to 'feel it'.
And then you wonder if there are any left out on the counter for sampling purposes and if they clean it after and how (similar to the concept of my once seeing a Breast Enhancement Gel in a departmental store counter with a Please Try Me sign and no fitting room in sight, but more explicit).
This previously blocked memory was resurfaced by Jenny's recent entry discouraging the use of ----- on her site. And Mum, if you're reading this, I didn't buy it. Obviously, I'm still a virgin. *cough*
a) Said vibrator is lilac ("Do you have it in any other colour?" "Well, we sold out the pink ones.")
b) She urges you to 'feel it'.
And then you wonder if there are any left out on the counter for sampling purposes and if they clean it after and how (similar to the concept of my once seeing a Breast Enhancement Gel in a departmental store counter with a Please Try Me sign and no fitting room in sight, but more explicit).
This previously blocked memory was resurfaced by Jenny's recent entry discouraging the use of ----- on her site. And Mum, if you're reading this, I didn't buy it. Obviously, I'm still a virgin. *cough*
Labels:
Humour
Friday, September 11, 2009
Inane conversations

I rediscovered the joys of MorphThing.
With Jenny,
jenny says:
can i see the photo you used to do that?
hehe
janbanks.blogspot.com says:
but i missed it
my own photo?
or his?
jenny says:
both!
janbanks.blogspot.com says:
um ok
hang on
jenny says:
cos the kids that i make using that thing
turn out like ALIENS
janbanks.blogspot.com sends:
Cancel(Alt+Q)
janbanks.blogspot.com says:
heheheh
hayden turned out alright
jenny says:
yeah the real thing was ok
but i'm still wondering if i should trust that program and try again
janbanks.blogspot.com says:
lol
r u ready?
jenny says:
to try morphthing again?
janbanks.blogspot.com says:
for another baby!!
omg!
i know why u want my pic now!
u'r trying to hv a baby wif me!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOO
jenny says:
well i wasn't thinking of it, until YOU put the idea into my head
but, actually, i fear we will not work out my dear
as you live in another continent
btw that's a really really HUGE pic
it takes ages!
janbanks.blogspot.com says:
lol
well
the beauty of our future child is worth it
With WKS,
janbanks.blogspot.com says:
hehe
cute or not, our kid??
Fabien~Imperfections Extraordinaire says:
cute
lovely
janbanks.blogspot.com says:
tq tq
if u giv me dowry now
i marry her off to u when she is 18
LOL
The
Labels:
Humour
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The things we do
"Before I could get it together enough to form a sentence, or even to just yell a simple "no," she patted the gauze down and ripped it off. The pain was sort of insane. It felt like my soul was torn from my body. And you know, when you get your soul torn from your body, you don't really want it exiting through your asshole."
I actually laughed out aloud reading this. At the same time, I was overwhelmed with empathy having experienced the similartrauma situation a few years ago.
I actually laughed out aloud reading this. At the same time, I was overwhelmed with empathy having experienced the similar
Labels:
Humour
Monday, September 7, 2009
Like truth, honesty hurts. A little.

I received a little surprise this morning. Previous Employer had paid me a fortnight's wages, in spite of the fact I'd left my job 3 weeks ago. Quite frankly, the money would have been nice. I spent about $2,000 this month, for the car registration, the flight tickets, computer repairs, the electricity bill and other miscellaneous bits and bobs I'd been putting off for yonks (read: I am poor).
BUT! my extremely vocal conscience refused to let me rest. I would make such a
From: Jan
Subject: RE: Payroll error
To: Melissa
Cc: CEO@XXXXcollege.qld.edu.au
Received: Monday, 7 September, 2009, 1:34 PM
Dear Melissa,
How have you been? Payroll used to be your domain before being outsourced to ADP; I checked my account this morning and found that $XXXX had been credited to it, under the College's account on 04/09/2009. I tried checking the ADP website, but was unable to log on. I assume this means all my details have been terminated, so I'm a little confused how this mistake occurred.
How would you like me to return this money? I can debit it back to the College, but can't remember the banking details.
Thanks!
Regards,
Jan
*smacks conscience*
Labels:
Rambling
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The maternal script
(Almost) every phone conversation with my mother starts/ includes a handful of the following phrases, which cover a large portion of Asian Maternal Concerns About Their Female Offspring Residing On A Different Continent With A Man Twice Her Age:
"Are you any fatter?" or alternately, if she sees a recent picture of me on Facebook (yes, my mother has Facebook!), "Girl, why are you so thin now!?"
"Are you any darker?"
"Have you had your period?"
"Have you been going to church?"
"What did you have for dinner?" (She usually calls in the evening)
"How is X?"
"You know what your insert relative did? insert juicy gossip + a few exaggerations."
"Are you any fatter?" or alternately, if she sees a recent picture of me on Facebook (yes, my mother has Facebook!), "Girl, why are you so thin now!?"
"Are you any darker?"
"Have you had your period?"
"Have you been going to church?"
"What did you have for dinner?" (She usually calls in the evening)
"How is X?"
"You know what your insert relative did? insert juicy gossip + a few exaggerations."