Inspiration for a lost nation...

Who would have thought that my mediocre little blog would inspire someone else to create a blog of their own?

I like my online diary, and I like the fact that people enjoy reading it! And no, I didn't stop blogging for a bit because I was offended, in no way was I offended at all!

Allow me to explain.

I usually only blog when I feel something significant has happened that needs me to capture it down somewhere so that one day, I will be able to go back there and relive the memory, the pain or the pleasure. Yeah, a lot has happened in the nearly two months of my blogging absense, but in all honesty, it wasn't anything worth writing about.

And back to the normal pile of compost...

Things are really weird at work. Not crap, just weird! I have a load of work, because of this whole integration thing. I'm currently co-ordinating all the installations of new stuff at three mines in Tanzania (mosquito valley a-la-carte), South Deep, and in our Rustenburg project. Plus I'm trying to keep Jean and Jay from killing each other in the side line business, because money is something that turns nice guys into Frankenstein's monster. Then I have the normal job that I have to do as well, and my brain just turns to mush. Half the time, I'm running on auto-pilot, because if I had to try and think, I would die of confusion!

At home, the woman is in a crap mood, primarily because of the job that's killing her. She applied for a job at Groen Dakkies (that's Sterkfontein Mental Hospital for the uninformed), her one ex colleage works there and let her know about the position. Apparently, it's a lovely place to work at. I hope she gets it, it'll give me a break!

As for the band, things turned real sour, but I managed to turn the situation into something wonderful. Marc quit (again), so we were left without a vocalist. As I was trying to collect my thoughs and finding a solution, I heard from a friend that Mario (the bassist) was claiming the band has split up. *LIGHTBULB*

Since Barend asked me to play for his side project in Pretoria again, and this time round I accepted, I asked those guys if they would like to carry on with the PSordid brand. We will rewrite some of our old songs, use some of theirs, and drop some of both. They liked the idea, and the new PSordid has rehearsed twice already! This Thursday will be #3, and I absolutely love the sound. Much heavier, more refined, and it has these huge basket balls, not teeny balls. HUGE BALLS. YES YES...

As for the girl, I have officially gotten over my little infatuation period. She, however, has not. And I feel a little crappy about that, but I can't live a lie, it's not right. Not towards me, her, or anyone else in my life.

About two years ago, my car's engine overheated and I replaced it with an imported unit. Since that day, the radiator fans refused to switch off. Diagnostics at the agent chooned that it's the fan switch, which I replaced to no avail. Now about a month ago, my car's clutch cable snapped, and I managed to pick a replacement up for dirt cheap (R80!!), which I installed in the parking lot in the evening so I could drive home. In the meantime, I ordered a better quality unit, so that I could make sure I have a reliable solution soon. Now this better unit was then installed on Saturday morning. As I remove the old one, I see this one connector plug with 5 wires running in on the one side, and only four on the other. "Hmmmm", I explaimed with great relish! Out comes the leathermann (which I got as a present, just so you know I'm not that cliché...), and I slice the insulation off, only to reveal a broken wire. Soldering iron, a length of wire, and some insulation tape followed, and after the clutch cable was installed, great was my glee when I started the car and there was no fan noise!

So I was so pleased, that I washed my car.

My friends know, I NEVER wash my car. It's like polishing shoes. It just doesn't get done!

And yesterday morning, I polished it! YES. BELIEVE IT!

It was like driving a new car to work. Soft clutch. Quiet. Oh so quiet. Shhhh shhhhh. Hehe

This is week 10 that I'm waiting for my ADSL at home. I wonder if Telkom think they're funny. I guess not. I mean, their slogan does read Touching Tomorrow. They have no interest in helping you today, they'll just put everything off to tomorrow. Go figure.

Another Tanzania trip is coming up too. I have to go and meet with the IT admins at the three mines up there, introduce myself and take a nice site visit, see what's happening. Then I can kick their asses into gear so we can get the integration moving! Once it starts, I want it over in 4 weeks. Yes, I am a slave driver. But nobody said it's not allowed!



Random thought of the day: Let's organize a gathering of introverts.