Got the telescope out. Got very satisfying woah's from the kids.

Edit. Slight edit adding some sharpness as it seems the eyepiece was a little smudged. But otherwise straight through the eyepiece with my phone. Running with my recent Android Auto Wireless dongle AliExpress win, I've ordered what I hope to be a mount for my phone so I can do some proper long exposures using the tracking unit...

so far, COVID symptoms rather mild, but appear to have lost my sense of taste. As one who loves to cook, this is distressing. Hope it returns quickly.

Late night gang checking In.. what what beratnas

So over the last few months, I've been looking at more options for school and was considering home schooling. When I started speaking with an education specialist outside of my school, she said that because of my raw English scores, I should just go straight into the TAFE course I wanted to study (Cert III in Community Services).

I remember being told basic TAFE course entry requirements are generally BKSB or equivalent (ACSF/LLN) scores of 3 or higher. At last test, I scored a 4 in english and 2 in math, but they suggested that regardless it's worth having a crack and seeing if they'll accept me. Today I did a retest and have progressed to a level 5 in english, but am still a level 2 in math. But I'm 93% of the way to level 3, so I decided to apply for the course anyway.

(BKSB/ACSF scores are out of 5, and my school ties them to the years of high school. So the target is to meet a BKSB of 5 by the time you finish year 12, with a 1 being the goal by the end of year 8, so on. So since I'm still in year 10, I am above where I should be in english (which is a big surprise to me, because I've always struggled with things like essay style writing), and a 2 in math is where I should be.)

I don't have high hopes, I feel like on paper I must look like a really, really bad student, and they don't take scores into account in the initial application at all. Still, even if they knock me back, that is better than where I stand now, since it'll tell me exactly what the problem is. Right now I don't know whether it's being 17, not having finished year 10, not being great in math, or any number of other things that will be an issue. The course doesn't list any entry requirements, though, so fingers crossed I guess 🤞

It's too cold for singlet and boxers to bed. Way too cold.

Seriously hate paper straws. They always break on me and then I can’t enjoy my beverage with a straw as I would like.

2 hours of video equals 5ish hours of study. I'm done for the evening thank fuck. My hand hurts from taking notes lol

Also for your amusement:

At least the fresh roll isn't going to waste.

Home from second social occasion in as many nights. Extremely rare for me. Had fun both nights. Had two drinks night one, three drinks tonight and called it early rather than carry on as I could've. To continue would mean I needed to get quite drunk indeed because my social energy was so low and I was bored. I'm glad I made the sensible choice

Today calls for a treat, I'm getting a coffee at a cafe. Knuckling down on all the shit I need to get done, which, looking at the weather over the next few days, appears to include ALL the washing done and dry by the end of today.

I've just put fresh sheets on the bed (with Mr Woof's "help") and am looking forward to bedtime. I've got my favourite jungle print doona cover on and also have my leopard print flannelette pjs out ready.

I've got a $100 Dan Murphy's gift card I've had since Christmas itching to be spent and a desire to get outside myself today. Trying to think of something special to buy myself.

Maybe it's a fancy whisky day. I already have fancy gin, fancy vodka and fancy tequila here which I've had for ages. Hmm.

Edit: further proof Gboard (Google's keyboard on android phones) is tracking everything we type.. I'm now seeing whisky ads in the Reddit app and this post is literally the only whisky related thing I've entered into my phone. I only just had the idea as I was writing it.

Need to go buy another dog crate for my car. Don’t feel safe after the Rowville kidnapping incident. The police station is maybe 50m away from where it happened. I shop there sometimes, always thought it was safe and well lit etc. Gonna take the dog out with me where possible. I read some news article a few weeks ago where a woman who had her German shepherd in the car was not targeted by the offender.

I've covered the electric heating pad with a fleecy blanket in my bed - Miss Moo is sleeping on top of both with the doona over her. It says it has a temperature limit and it is intended for pets so hopefully that's safe.

Fun headache and nausea. Not sure if it's because I was focusing my eyes on close work for almost an hour with the glare of a lamp, have been sleeping poorly, or the flu shot from 2-3 days ago has caught up with me.

Was hoping to keep our car scratch free for years to come. Bought it new less than a year ago.

Today while waiting for my wife to finish work, a ute backed into it. Other guy was nice though.

The cat is.... A cat. I usually get up at 6am on the weekdays and help my partner get up and ready for work. I tend to give the cat some food around the same time.

Well, he was pawing and scratching at the closet and my face at 6am. So I get up and put some food out, but he wasn't hungry apparently. So I laid down on the couch and he just jumped up and fell asleep between my legs.

Asshole. Smart, dumb asshole.

I'm making some progress, after weeks of procrastination - first 6 nights of my trip are sorted, as well as the ferry booking!

Of course, there have been consequences, as accom and car booking for the shared part of my trip with my friends is basically sold out, so I've had to book somewhere a 30 minute drive from where they're staying (and gotta rely on the public bus to get to and fro - it's Japan, we'll survive). Crossing our fingers something will come through with a car booking in that period even for just one day.

Now to do the next 9 days. And travel insurance and a damn travel SIM. I got this...

Meanwhile at least I've done all my laundry and it's drying nicely in the sun. I'm afraid my plants are at the bottom of the list atm.

Need to still make dinner tonight. Tomorow, packing and more cooking.

home made chili cheese bread is rising

Family day out today. Went to IKEA looking for random stuff.

Really proud of the kids cracking jokes at people I would make fun of.

Does it sound mean? It does.

Was it funny at the time? Hell yeah.

Did the people deserve it? Maybe...but it was funny.

Am I ashamed? Not really.

🎼And I'm tired
Nine hundred sit-ups a day
I'm painting my hair the color of mud
Mud okay?
I'm tired, tired
Anybody care what I say?
No!
Painting my hair the color of mud 🎶

Let's just say I could really do with a big bowl of potato gems right now.

Yay, I won tattslotto! $8.85, over half of what I spent back 🤣

Now to decide whether to blow it all on another ticket...

Mein liebe made currywurst. Delicious.

Now I'm full of coffee and sausage

Ocean was a bit rough but there were some peeps in without wetsuits (rare)!

Always makes me happy to see others with the same idea

spoiler

---

Turning these cardboard things from the tea I bought into bookmarks. Not the best colouring effort, but better than blank :3

Sort of put my foot in it tonight. Headed down the bellarine to p's place. Their stove top has stopped sparking. Mum's frustration was real.

Anyway said their ancestors a few 100k years ago would be upset because at least they could light a fire.

had that lined up for a few hours and it didn't go down as well as expected.

I know it’s cold because I’m pinned down by my cat.

Might make some pasties today. And find my beanies and thermals.

Made ramen. Watching Ponyo. Sadly no ham.

I have emerged from the snotting, and will be going to the market. BRB

Giving my partner whiplash with my Everything playlist. Tenacious D, followed by Nickel Creek, followed by The Rembrants, followed by MCR.

The poor man is having an aneurysm listening to it. The playlist title isn't a lie, don't know what to tell him 😂

Saw a car seemingly abandoned on the side of the road the other night.

I looked up options to report it and the police non-urgent crimes line seemed like the best bet. I'd rather not call the police but I figured there was no one for them to harass as it was an abandoned car.

They actually escalated me to 000 and the car was gone today.

The only downside is I reported the car as a hazard on Waze and it looks like I didn't get any points for it :(

Since the cold swims the last few years at this time of year have been very confusing body-wise.

It's getting to the in between temp where the brown fat activates and deactivates on and off. So you actually feel colder if it warms up a bit but when the temp drops it kicks back in.

It's interesting stuff:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24015-brown-fat

In that article it talks about needing to be cold a few times a week, but I've found it still works weeks / months between cold swims.

Also in light of being told just the other day about whatever genetic problem I might have relating to high cholesterol decided to go down the rabbit hole and it turns out brown fat reduces hypercholesterolaemia.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25754609/

So there you go. Something that started out as something 'fun' to do turns out it's a big area of research, and might even prolong my time on this god-forsaken rock and I never would've known otherwise.

Mmm tired

Ok. My goal is 2.5 hours of the 6 hour video today. Here we go. Come on ADHD medication, work your magic!!!

Edit: this stuff is actually fun. I've always been an IT nerd, and this brings back memories of that feeling of accomplishment I used to get