So, yeah, me whining about travel. I travel a lot with my job, and it's something you get to look back on as part of your life's long journey. But it's a collection of short, intense trips that don't involve much relaxation or tourist-ing.

Last September: a week in Taiwan. I was in Taipei in 2003, so it was almost 4 years to the day that I went back. This time I saw a little more, including missing a fast train south and catching a slow train by mistake instead. I kept a few people waiting, but it all worked out. I did get a day free in Taipei to walk around, spend some time in some museums and grounds, and climbing Taipei 101, from which you can see a few shots below.















November -- Indonesia. Not quite two weeks, spent between the islands of Lombok and Timor (always via Bali).

January started a trip that involved spending five out of six consecutive weeks in hotels and airports. It started with three weeks in Vietnam (Hanoi and Can Tho) and then TheFuckOffGirl came over and we spent a week of time off. Our plan to spend a weekend in central Vietnam was somewhat hampered by her getting sick in Hanoi, but we did get a few very pleasant days in Hue. I don't have the photos from there loaded on the laptop, but I'll post them at some point.





A close shave flying out of Ho Chi Minh city. I managed to leave my laptop back at the hotel. Getting back from the airport to central HCMC and back again in time to check in was, shall we say, stressful. TheFuckOffGirl was less than impressed, but we made the flight.

Then there was a week in Canberra. Then a week back in Sydney, then to Indonesia and a series of hotels, ranging from comfortable tourist-friendly places in Bali to what were close to camping huts without flush toilets. Then another drama re getting home -- our flight was cancelled, and three of us had to buy tickets on Garuda to fly home via Melbourne. Good times.

Now I'm back home, more or less. At least until mid-year. Maybe I'll be going to Sweden, we'll see.

Where to start?

My psychopathic colleague is, I think, self-immolating. He's trying to fight with everyone (mostly to undermine me), but it seems like things are collapsing around him. The new Dean (he started today -- see previous entry where we were about to interview the candidates, and yes, that's how long since I last updated) is going to be fairly unprepared to tolerate such manic and unhinged drama-queenishness.

It makes for some interesting email exchanges while I'm in hotel rooms in other countries.

Other than that, things appear to be going quite well, both for TheFuckOffGirl and myself. Change is in the air, and I think it will be for the good.

The popular part of my updates is undoubtedly where I tell people the latest anecdote about TheFuckOffGirl. So here we go. On the weekend, she borrowed my laptop and ended up IMing with an old SG friend for an extended time. Later, said friend did confirm that "she was everything I expected." She gives good IM. (She's in Melbourne right now and responded to my message tonight with You? Again?) She's a charmer. We've been watching quite a bit of The West Wing lately, just FYI. I like the show but this more to her instigation than mine.

So Ner Fus Nar Gool is her Star Wars name. Don't ask why, it just is. When I opened my suitcase in Vietnam on the first night I was there, she'd left me a little love note on the top of my clothes, signed Ner Fus Nar Gool". You really don't need to know the origins of the name, just to know I was totally charmed.

She has lately taken the expression "Right to die" and applied it to the idiots she sees around her in traffic. If a pedestrian wanders out on the street in dangerous proximity to the car, she opines that they would be "right to die". Occasionally she yells it out the window.

Then there's The Glom. That's when I'm in her vicinity when she's at her own computer, and I am expected to "glom on", which is a combination standing hug and nuzzle. It is the act of a supplicant, and she acts appropriately haughty and imperious. I'm doing well if I can get her to melt.

Lately, I've mostly seen movies by watching them on the plane.

I watched "The 3:10 to Yuma" on the plane back from 'Nam, when everything was dark and most people were sleeping. It was pretty disturbing in those circumstances.

Lastly: I've tried reformatting the fux0red text in here, but it's not behaving. *sigh* Or maybe, now, it is behaving.

Well, shit continues to happen. Pressure has been building up and I’ve been feeling stressed and close to total burnout. TFOG’s going through her own work stress (we work at the same institution, go figure), and we had a bit of a mini-crisis a week or so back where we had a moment of what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-our-lives.

So, things go up and down. Including my mood. Things seem to be on a bit of an upswing right now, but I've given some higher-ups notice that I don't intend to stay in the role I’m in right now beyond about mid-next year.

If you know me at all or have seen me around the site it probably won't come as a complete surprise to know this all involves a university. The Vice-Chancellor (i.e. chief executive) is stepping down and a replacement has been announced. Our Faculty is searching for a new Dean. (I'm on the interview panel, which all happens in a few weeks.) There's a lot happening in my institution, which became clear in the last few days while I've been attending a Senior Management Forum of the university, something they do every year. Interesting perspectives on what's going on -- a view right inside the heart of the sausage factory.

Things are changing, senior people are changing ... interesting times. But I'm getting tired of it all.

I got sick again recently. Not as bad as last time, but man, I could use a period of health. I'm kind of assuming it's linked in with being run-down from work. But man, I'd like to have the opportunity to go for a run or visit the gym or something.

Root canal will finally be completed this week though, after 5 or so visits. Woohoo!

SG Sydney folks (and the occasional interstate visitor) popped out to Coogee Beach a couple of Sundays ago. Longish story short, it was fun.

TheFuckOffGirl section of this blog will now be updated *ahem*

A driving-along story. As I drove us home one day, I pontificated about how something (I don't even remember what) lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. TFOG looks at me unimpressed and retorts: "Je ne sais quoi you're talking about."

So, at this corporate-strategy planning shindig for the university I got drunk with TFOG's boss. Whereas I'm on the academic side, being all professor-y, TFOG works on the management/administration/policy side, helping the university to actually run. She's made quite an impression there, as you might imagine.

Anyway, I'm at this shindig dinner and the evening is marching on and people are dividing into go-to-bedders and hangers-on. As TFOG's boss and I drink and chat, their Big Boss walks up to us, on his way out of the room. He is the guy in charge of all the university's financials, and he's one of the most powerful 3 or 4 people in the institution. Something like the following conversation ensues.

TFOG's boss: "Do you know who this is?"

The Big Boss: "Yes, it's TFOK. We talked earlier today."

TFOG's boss: "No, do you know who this really is?"

Me: (muttering) "No he doesn't know who I really am."

TFOG's boss: "This is Mr TFOG!"

The Big Boss: "Oh, so he's important!. He should change his name-tag."

So, you know what? I really haven't enjoyed much about work for the last year and a half or so, having been put "in charge" of a group of people no sensible person would choose to be in charge of. But slowly, somehow, it's semi-working itself out. The two new guys who started in midyear are working out pretty well so far, and they've changed the balance of terror somewhat in my favour.

I've been asked to write a paper for a special issue of this journal, one of those new and slightly weird inter-disciplinary journals most of us have never heard of, but it was flattering to be invited, and they've basically asked me to write a paper I should've written several years ago.

I'm going to have an interesting few months dealing with a power-struggle that's been ongoing since I took on this leadership role. I have a new ally in the battle. Interesting times.

I got sick as a dog in the weeks leading up to the SGAU Ball. The flu season was particularly brutal this year and it laid me up for well over a week, some of that time being while TFOG was away. (She was booked to travel to the US, and she had it sorted to go first class, and a couple of days before she was due to go, she followed me in getting sick. Fortunately for her, at least she travelled while ill in great comfort.)

Since the Ball, I've had an old toothache issue rear its painful head again, and I'm now in the middle of root canal treatment. Two visits down, two to go.

The SGAU Ball was held in Brisbane in mid-August. Most of the people who were there have already blogged about it and we've had plenty of discussion of the aftermath within SGAU. Let's just say it was a lot of fun, people coped very well with adversity (the tagged bus, for starters!), and I met a lot of new people and old friends. I lapdanced some people and generally behaved a little bit badly but it was fun. And I got to meet my ball-date anepiphany in person for the first time. Oh my.

TheFuckOffGirl does not like it when, in bed, I lie with my head "below" hers (closer to the foot of the bed). She says it's like sleeping with a midget. If I ever lie like that, she calls me her "prison bitch". When my tooth was giving me great pain, my right cheek swelled up noticeably. At that point the description changed to "fat-faced prison bitch."

We've developed a relatively new couple-friend relationship with two Englishfolk who are quite funny and charming. She's decided to use the modern piece of parlance, "bromance", to describe James (the dude) and I, who get along quite well. (The stereotypical bromance would be Joey and Chandler from Friends.) When asked what the equivalent relationship description should be for two women, TFOG came up with "ho-mance".

We have had visitations from various SG personae lately. I've gotten to meet and hang out with Noir and beppo and Sin, and a whole host of people have hung out at the Hotel Helly in western Sydney. It gets wild out there.

I lost a week due to illness (see below), which means I feel like I'm behind where I should be. I'm still "in charge" and feeling like I don't belong. I've got the "faking it" down ok though. I pretend to know what I'm doing and people play along like they believe that I do.

Two new guys started with us (as foreshadowed in last month's post). One came from Europe (having studied in the US), one from the US (having previously studied in Europe, go figure). As I understood it, the second guy, who's married, was going to come out in advance of his wife who would follow him out later. Now I find out that she has family in Canada and doesn't want to live as far away as Australia. This bodes well.

Flu season in Sydney (at least, can't speak for the other cities) has been seriously bad this year. I got knocked about starting in the middle of July and felt totally shitty. TheFuckOffGirl is always amused when I'm feeling sick and miserable, because she always thinks I'm bunging it on.

Then she got sick too.

So we oscillated between:

TFOG: [lying prone in bed] "I'm so sorry. I feel awful. I can't believe I was making fun of you."

And, moments later:

TFOG: "I hate you."
Me: "I know, baby, I know."
TFOG: "You made me sick."
Me: "I know, baby, I know."

You see, several days after getting completely sick, she was meant to travel to Boston for a conference and workshop as part of the Travel Scholarship she won (as mentioned in the last entry). She did travel, taking antibiotics with her, but felt shitty for much of the time. (Don't feel too bad -- through sneaky upgrading, she travelled to Boston first class. Srsly.)

She got back on Sunday (to a mostly clean house! yes! and an almost dead plant!) and today she flew out to Kuala Lumpur. Hmph. I've spent the last couple of weeks at home sick and miserable and lonely.

I spent, amid coughing fits, Saturday at an "Ampfest" where I got to meet a bunch of rockpig guitarists and local people who make really high quality amplifiers, like Duane Ledford and Pete Reynolds, and played through them. I noodled around on one of these Crossley guitars too.

e1e and lowroller came along for the ride too, which was good of them.

Hasn't she been some fun, eh?

TFOG read up some of the debates I've been having with Professor Bitch, and agreed with my presumption that her reaction to it all would be "Why spend time arguing with idiots?"

I think I'm getting the hang of this "leadership" shit. That, or people are starting to figure out I'm here for the duration and I have to be dealt with. New colleagues are about to start, and having played a part in hiring them, I'm looking forward to this. That said, I'll be happy when this spell is over. I'm just not quite sure when that'll be.

Damn, that's a really superficial description. There's lots going on, and it's keeping me superbusy. It just seems boring to write about the details.

The rainy cold stormy weather in Sydney lately has put paid to a few plans, such as seeing (former members and) Unholy Trinity ladies spookshowbaby and LivingDeadGirl. I did, however, make it out to drink with Marni and then go see Linz off, with Anton, and the previous weekend caught up with Milli and lowroller.

It's still cold and shitty here though. Play time opportunities limited. Not optimal going out circumstances.

Two vignettes and some new news about TFOG.

Vignette 1.
"You know you have big boobs when you take your bra off and a five cent coin falls to the floor..."

Vignette 2.
Me: "I'll do that [unspecified practical thing]."
Her: "You? You're the least practical man ever. How will you do it?"
Me (indignant): "I'll get a manual!"
Her: "Yeah, a man you'll hire..."
Me: " ... "

Update.
She's going to Boston in July, the result of winning a global corporate travel scholarship (seriously!). Expenses to go to a conference and tuition for a program offered by the Wharton School. She wrote an essay at the last minute, and BAM, she's in. She's also getting a promotion at work, apparently. I'm not sure whether I'm proud or a bit annoyed at all this. Envy's an ugly thing.

I feel like various life ambitions have been put on hold indefinitely, or at least are festering somewhere waiting for me to act on them. I need new projects. I'm (slowly) getting to a position at work where I'm really feeling like I'm making a contribution and having an impact of sorts. But I need some more projects. Maybe if I start talking about them here I'll motivate myself to get off my arse.

Have a nice month, until we speak next.

I'll ensure she gets to read what you all have to say.

I am at the stage of monthly updates lately, but I couldn't even manage that last month. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it didn't help that after spending a lot of January and February away I had things to write about and pictures to show off. Not so much this last 4-6 weeks. Just back to work and settling back in. Nose back to grindstone and all that.

From February: "Back at it. I have a colleague I would like to skewer. Showdown ahoy." Well, showdown was somewhat had, but less confrontationl than it otherwise might have been, so calamity averted. It's not been fun though. Saps my energy considerably. I still have days when I'd like to skewer the arsehole, but more often than not I don't have to deal much with him.

Interesting conversations in the bedroom lately.

Part (i), where I learn that monsters are not very bright.

It's late one night recently. I've gotten into bed while TFOG is doing last minute teeth-cleaning and whatnot. She finally turns off the bedroom light and dashes quickly into the bed, climbing under the doona. Then she promptly starts thrashing about, finally kicking her pants off and throwing them onto the floor. I stay silent during this procedure as I know that anything is possible with TFOG, and I should restrain the urge to act surprised or to ask stupid questions. If there's some information worth revealing, she will reveal it.

TFOG: "I have to take off my jeans in bed if it's dark."
Me: "Why?"
TFOG: "So the monsters under the bed don't get me! If you walk around with jeans on, you fool them into thinking you're not preparing for bed."
Me: "The monsters can't be that smart then, if they're so easily fooled by your clothing choices."
[At this point, even though it's dark, the scornful look on her face feels like a tangible presence.]
TFOG: "Well, of course! They choose to live under beds!"

Of course. Stupid bed-dwelling monsters. (I have a feeling the smart ones live in the cupboard.)

Part (ii), in which TFOG reveals her inner mafioso.

This morning, Sunday, I wake up around 9am and get up, letting TFOG continue sleeping as she's been really tired lately. Around noon, I decide I should risk waking her up as we have stuff to do today. So I climb into bed beside her, wrap my arms around her, and kiss her face and neck gently till she wakes up. We lie close together snuggled up for awhile, and then I decide to try and extricate myself to go and start making coffee for us both.

Me: "OK baby, I'm going to go make coffee now."
TFOG [in muffled drowsy sweet loving half-asleep voice]: "Mmmmm, noooo, stay awhile longer..."
Me: "But I need to get you your coffee."
TFOG [in muffled drowsy sweet loving half-asleep voice]: "Mmmm, and what I fucking need you to fucking do is to fucking stay here five more fucking minutes and give me more fucking cuddles. Do you think you could fucking do that for me? Mmmmkay."
Me [settling back into pillow in terrified silence, lest I end up sleeping with the fishes]: "..."

This is usually the part where I get to go on about all the places I've been lately. So last week, it was Dubbo, in central New South Wales. Not exactly high on the list of world travel destinations. They have a nice open range zoo though.

I did get to go to the V Festival, and saw (among others) the New York Dolls, Jarvis Cocker, Beck and The Pixies. That was a pretty good day.

I got back the other day from a month away. Vietnam pics in last update, and some more pics to follow. Stockholm was the next destination -- quite a contrast, snowy, grey, beautiful. I rugged up in stripey longjohns, a scarf, hat and gloves, and explored the town when I wasn't visiting the Institute that I was spending a few days at. My friend Jo came over for London with a friend of hers, and we explored Gamla Stan. I want to go back there, sometime soon. It's lovely.

Final stop -- Queenstown, New Zealand. Jesus. What a lovely place to spend a week in summer.

Back at it. I have a colleague I would like to skewer. Showdown ahoy.

Us in a car, me driving.
TFOG: "I love you."
Me: [driving, slightly distracted] "I love you too."
TFOG: "My love would win over your love in a fight."
Me: "Oh yeah?"
TFOG: "My love would kick your love's lily-livered ass and leave it whimpering on the floor in the foetal position with a black eye, an aching ball sac and a decimated sense of self-worth."
Me: "......"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dapperlittlesquirrel

Bought this shirt in Can-tho, south Vietnam. Just fucking glorious.

These are various shots from around Hanoi, including some from the Temple of Literature.







In this last one I am lying with a very ill belly in a clinic about to receive two hours worth of a saline drip into the catheter you can see inserted in my arm. (And a shot of antibiotics.)

These are various shots from around Ha Long Bay, north of Hanoi. Spectacular, even with hazy cloudy weather.

She has spent the past week in Hanoi with me. She loves Asia, having been a Japan-o-phile for more than a few years but this is her first time in Vietnam. She's already learned more about Hanoi in a week than I have on several trips, and is quickly picking up bits of the language.

We also had a trip to Ha Long Bay, the beautiful (and very well known) area a little to the north. The car journey along the highways is a little bit hairy, because drivers here don't think anything of moving out across the centre line into oncoming traffic to overtake something they deem to be moving too slowly in front of them.

We had a bag of sweet stuff to nibble, grabbed from a bakery, in a bag in the car we were being driven to Ha Long Bay in. TFOG was snacking away happily on the journey there and apropos nothing, made the following observation. (Keep in mind that the observation was not spoken in order to generate a conversation. She says these things in a way that makes them sound completely self-contained. The follow-up questions I ask in such situations feel almost intrusive.)

TFOG: "It's good to be an adult."
TFOK: "Why?"
TFOG: "Because when you go into a bakery like the one we got this stuff from, there's nobody to tell you that you can't have whatever you want."
TFOK: "Indeed."

Soon afterwards, our driver did a rather heart-stopping maneuver, overtaking a van while just barely avoiding an oncoming car. As we watched this unfolding from the backseat I clutched TFOG's hand and she clutched back. She kept on eating the snacks, though. Once our car was driving safely again, I looked over at her.

TFOG: "It's good to have two hands."

Indeed.