More, please?

That's a favourite phrase of Jessica's: whether in response to a soggy, empty icecream cone, the fading out of a song she was gyrating to, or the credits rolling on a Wiggles DVD. It's also somewhat apt for this post.

Do you know what you're doing on May 11, 2008?

We do. We're having a baby!
(since the first one turned out so beautifully, why wouldn't you?)

We had the first scan today, and everything is progressing really well (it was nice to see that our Obstetrician had a photo of 2-week-old Jessica up on his wall, and we were able to reintroduce them to each other). Mel & baby are both doing well, but Mel is feeling queasy for a LOT of the day. Baby's at 9 weeks and 3 days, so hopefully the morning sickness will abate in a few weeks time. Naturally, we'll keep you posted.

Well, I've gotta go pack my bag and try to get to bed, as it's a 3am start tomorrow (heading to Brisbane again until Friday night). Lucky me :(

Matt

21 today!!!

Months, that is.
(I can't bear to think about her ever being 21 YEARS old!)

She keeps getting more precious by the minute, and I'm very conscious that this blog has done very little justice to that fact...especially of late. Will try very hard to post at least one or two clips of the increasingly-wonderful Jessica in October. And implicit in that is that you'll also see some clips of the wonderful Melissa, too.

Come to think of it, I'll need to be making video clips at a pretty speedy rate from now on, as it's just over 12 weeks to Christmas (and therefore, 12 weeks to "Family Album 2007"). Add to that the fact that I'll spend probably 11 of those weeks trying to get some rudimentary comprehension of the new software, and I'm in some real trouble!! It must be high time for all those family members with cameras and video cameras to step in and replace me, no?! Trust me, it really is very easy - I just make it LOOK difficult.

Matt

Pro Creation

People often ask me why I haven't left my job yet.

Lots of people.

It's a question that seems to unite disparate groups of people, who may not agree on very much else except their shared conviction that I need to leave my job. In fact, I was asked the question again tonight.

I certainly don't mind the question - not in the slightest - and I take it as a reminder that people genuinely care about my welfare (and also that I might need to tone down the extent of my whingeing!). And since I occasionally ask myself the same question (some weeks much more often than others), I really can't blame others for wondering too. Well, the reasons that I stay in my job are both complicated and very simple. Although now's not the time to elaborate on those arguments, today emphasised just one of those key reasons...

A couple of months ago I wrote that I was hoping to one day purchase Final Cut Studio 2. (If you don't believe me, here's that post). "FCS2" is a highly-advanced video editing, soundtrack design, 3D motion and DVD authoring suite from Apple, and it's used by Emmy-award winning TV shows & Oscar-winning movies etc etc. It's quite expensive by my standards (you could very convincingly argue that it's worth ten times it's R.R.P., but that's not the point here - it's still very expensive regardless of it's value). The software I use now, MediaStudio Pro 8, costs about one-third of what FCS2 costs (and even then, I only use MSP8 because I was given a free copy by the company!), but if I'm to ever 'graduate' to a more polished and professional quality level, I'll need to move up to learning FCS2; it's the industry standard. The fact that Ulead/Corel seem to be discontinuing MSP after this version certainly helped to make that decision (and push us away from PC's to the Mac itself).

Well yesterday, after a few months of saving - helped by a bonus from work - I was finally able to...[insert drumroll please]...purchase Final Cut Studio 2! Apple have already shipped it, and the tracking website predicts that it will arrive here tomorrow. I'm very excited. I'm not a shopper by any stretch, and I really don't get excited about buying things for myself (case in point being my wardrobe consisting almost-exclusively of decades-old clothing from K-Mart). I actually get very anxious about buying things - particularly things for myself - but this particular purchase excites me because of what it represents. The potential to be unlocked here is immense, and I've had many sleepless nights wrestling with all of the possibilities. I actually have something of a grand plan in mind - I guess it's been brewing for at least the last 18 months - and yesterday's purchase is a big stepping stone on the way to reaching those larger goals. (I may share some of that grand plan here on day, but if you think my current posts are long and rambling, wait until you get me talking about THAT!).

Anyway, the bottomline is that, while I may not love my job, and while they may not always treat me particularly well, and while it may not be leading me where I ultimately want to be going, I am immensely thankful for it. It's an avenue, a stepping stone, a springboard, and a great means to end. In a very real way, it affords me the opportunity to pursue something bigger and better, and I'm getting pretty excited about those future prospects (if you have an hour free sometime, I'll bore you with my big plans!).

Well, I really need to go get to bed. It's a big day at work tomorrow, followed by a big evening installing all 9 DVD's of Final Cut Studio 2. And then I have to start on the 6 BIG, heavy manuals, which will probably take weeks to read and months to understand (I've been reading what training materials I can find on the web, and downloading tutorial podcasts, but it's not really working without the software in front of me). So, you'll either see a very excited post from me tomorrow night, or you won't hear from me for the next 3 months while I try desperately to get my head around it all.

Probably both.

Good night,

Matt

Gee-whiz

Did you all see the big game yesterday? Geelong vs Port Adelaide? Hardly a game that anyone from Adelaide will be telling their grandkids about. I must be THE least sports-mad person I know, but I found it a terrific game to watch. I know some people have complained that it was too one-sided (especially for a Grand Final), and that a margin of 119 points (yep, 20 goals!) makes it all a bit boring. But if you spent your working week sitting beside Marg - the most passionate Cats supporter in the world - you'd have been caught up in her emotional journey too. She's 60+, goes to every single game, knows every stat and - as a single mother herself - has adopted every player as one of "her boys". We were seriously worried about her heart failing during the tense leadup to the finals, especially during the 5 point win to Collingwood last week. So a quick SMS to her at the siren on Saturday - just to check on her welfare - was met with "You beauty - this is the best feeling EVER!!!!". She and her daughter then drove to Geelong after the game, and spent the evening driving around the town tooting their horn and screaming in delight - with tens of thousands of others apparently. When I spoke to her today, she was barely able to speak - her voice almost completely gone from all the cheering. Even though I don't really 'get' sport itself, it's wonderful watching people who are THAT passionate about anything.

One minute's cone of silence

Did you realise that today is the second aniversary of the passing of Don Adams? If you're not already aware (oh the humanity!) Don played - or rather, was - Maxwell Smart, Agent 86. If you're too young to have seen Get Smart after school (as I did), you'll likely still have heard him after school as the voice of Inspector Gadget. He died at age 82 on September 25th, 2005, from a lung infection, after a long battle with bone lymphoma. (Incidentally, that was also the same month that Simon Weisenthal (The Nazi Hunter) & Bob Denver ("Gilligan") passed away). Bet you didn't know that he was also in the U.S. Marines, and that he was the only survivor in his platoon in Guadalcanal (where he contracted malaria)? Or that he was born Donald James Yarmy, to Hungarian & Irish parents? Or that he was married three times and had seven children, and that his youngest child is named "Beige"? Well you do now.

!sdrawkcab...lacipyT

Last Wednesday (the 19th), the guys from MuteMath again performed "Typical" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - this time in reverse and in a single take...

3-oh!-3

Ta-da! So now I'm 33.

Of course you know that Jesus was crucified at age 33 (I'll try not to focus on His accomplishments by that age as compared to mine), but did you know that Alexander The Great also died at 33? He's considered one of the most brilliant military commanders of all time (guess that's why he's not known as "Alexander The Mediocre") and was undefeated in battle prior to his death from a mystery illness. Again, I'll try not to be put off by his accomplishments in a relatively short life: so what if he conquered half the world while I worked at the same place for 17 years?? The Big Show-off. Maybe I'm just a late-bloomer? (although if marrying Mel and having Jessica count as accomplishments - and they do in my book - I can retire happy right now).

33 is also the atomic number of Arsenic and, of course, it is also the largest positive integer that cannot be expressed as a sum of different triangular numbers (who could forget??). It's also the number worn by NBA basketballers Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Larry Bird & Patrick Ewing, and of the legendary Baseball player, Jose Canseco (i only know of him because of The Simpsons). "Sure", I hear you scoff, "we knew THAT!". Fine then, but did you know that the 'smile for the camera' phrase used in Spain is not "Say Cheese", but "Say Thirty-Three" ("Diga treinta y tres")??? Haha! Didn't think so.

I had a great birthday as always. Mel made a cake of 6 different cheeses (no, not a cheesecake, but a tower of cheeses with candles stuck on them, garnished with walnuts and grapes), due to the below-mentioned diet. She and Jessica also bought me a Goodies apron, Goodies oven mit (both feature a picture and read "Goodie, Goodie, Yum Yum") and the complete, 5-season, 25-DVD box set of "Get Smart". It even comes in a telephone booth box! (we've enjoyed watching the first 9 or 10 episodes in the last couple of days - and I'm pleased to be introducing Mel to the fine comedic genius that brought us "...and loving it", "would you believe...", "the old ____ in the ____ trick", the cone of silence, the shoe phone, and so much more. As an aside, there must be something magical about the year 1965: both Get Smart and Hogan's Heroes piloted in that year, and I love both of the them for the same reasons (does that say more about 1965 or me?) In fact we have been watching the box set of HH just last week! And as an aside #2, in tonight's episode of Get Smart, the password and counter-sign that Max and The Chief had to use were "Apple" and "Macintosh": I wonder if that's where Steve Jobs got the name? As an aside #3, have you seen the new iPod touch and iMac? Beautiful. And did you know (Aside #4), that Pixar, who made Ratatouille which we saw last week, was once owned and run by Steve Jobs as it's CEO, and that he bought the company for $10 million and later sold it to Disney for $7.4 billion, making him Disney's #1 shareholder in the process? But now we're getting off topic, and you know how I hate to ramble :))


Anyway, I was really blessed to recieve so many calls, texts, posts, visits, cards, vouchers and gifts from lots of people: thankyou if you are one of those people!! Thanks very much for the 5 books I've now got to read, the jumper I get to wear, the vouchers I get to spend, and the car simulation I got to drive. I will really try to send an email or call you all, but 'the road to hell' and all that...

I think I might go to bed now. Hope you're well! (and thanks for the posts and emails keeping us in touch: I really appreciate them).

Matt

32.99726027

Well, I've been a bit slack in updating this thing in the last few weeks, and with my ailing, old-timer's memory, if I don't at least write something now I'll soon forget what's happened. So here's a very quick wrap up of the last week or so:

I went to a Switchfoot concert with two of my nieces, attended a Catalyst business breakfast the next morning, had a great time at Bec's 30th birthday party that night, spent most of the weekend in Yarram with Deb & the kids to celebrate two birthdays, spent Monday with my buddy Jessica, worked, went to the gym, watched a movie with M & J (Ratatouille), had Anthony & Christina & the boys over for supper/cake, and went driving around Nurburgring in a Porsche Carrera. The latter was achieved via a racing simulator, and the experience was a gift from the very thoughtful Christina & Anthony. I can't say that I covered myself in glory, and my best time was 10 minutes 25 seconds. (I was well on my way to beating the 10 minute mark when, on the 2nd last corner, I suddenly found myself embedded in a jungle of trees from which there was no return).

The Switchfoot concert was great, despite a rubbish audio system that made everything sound like it was played underwater, through a speaker stuck inside a mattress. My eldest niece, Susanna, was really looking forward to the concert but came down ill in the few days before it and had to miss out (she promises that she wasn't just trying to avoid being seen out in public with her daggy old uncle). Susanna's ticket was happily snapped up by Grace, so she and Erin joined me for a great night. We even had an opportunity to meet all 5 members of the band, as they shook hands and signed autographs after the show. The girls were all able to get t-shirts and have them signed by the guys, so Susanna didn't miss out completely. Music aside, the best part was spending some time with my nieces - something I don't get to do often enough. (Special note to you, Dad: Switchfoot are now doing a tour to support your mates at Habitat for Humanity: it's called the Appetite for Construction tour, but I think it's just U.S. dates so you might miss out this time 'round)

The Catalyst breakfast was also really interesting: I think there were 18 guys and 1 woman meeting at a cafe to chat about being in a workplace as a Christian. Anthony (he of the Nurburgring fame above) was asked to speak for a few minutes to get the discussion started, and the topic for the day was personal - and particularly, sexual - integrity. I think the one lady might have felt out of place, and she kept pretty quiet, but it was a good robust discussion for the rest of us.

Bec's 30th birthday party was a very stylish affair, with the house decorated beautifully with a gold theme, and everyone dressed as their favourite literary character. Everyone except the three of us, that is! As Mel & I were on unofficial video/photo "duty", we were let off lightly for having failed to find an outfit. And Jessica was let off because, well, she's Jessica and she's gorgeous. Everyone had a great time, and the food was amazing!! I'm on a very strict low-carb, high-protein diet at the moment, but do you think that stopped me having a little chocolate mousse? Not likely! I did manage to hold back from the Biscotten Torte & Birthday Cake, so that's perhaps something. I'd love to post some photos from the night, but since they feature other people and other people's kids, I'm not too sure that I have permission! (What's the protocol there? Hmm? I think I'd best err on the side of caution, and just post a picture of some of the cakes!). So another great night, Mum & Becky - thankyou!

Well, I have one day left at age 32 - 99.7% of that year having been used up already. It's amazing (and a little frustrating, unsettling, daunting) to see how fast time is going these days; there's so much I want to do and seemingly no time to do it. Maybe 33 will be the year that I get serious and make sure that at least some of those things happen...

Cheers,

Matt

Blessed

A hand-painted and glazed "Daddy" mug.  A hand-painted watercolour on canvas. A "Why I Love My Daddy" book (with a photo of Jessica & I inserted in the last page).  A new Ravi book.  A selection of delicious cheeses.  A brekky fry-up of bacon, eggs and sausages.  And lots of lovely hugs and kisses.  I could get used to days like today. (Thankyou Jessica & Thankyou Melly!)

We were also able to spend our afternoon at Jeff & Keren's (thanks again!) for a delicious lunch to celebrate Sammy & Eliza's birthday's. Jessica came down a little ill, but rallied enough with some mediine to still have a lot of fun with her cousins, Uncle, Aunts & her Granny (that's her pulling the go-kart). In fact we all had a great time.

Mel is hard at work at the computer tonight - a big deadline and meeting tomorrow in the City - and that follows her getting to bed at 5:00am today after an all-nighter on this same project. I hope she gets to bed before 12 tonight, but something tells me she won't. So all I can do is ply her with nice warm cuppas. And maybe some yummy cheese. I'll go and get her next cuppa now, but will include a few photos taken this week.

Take care,

M

Work, Wiggles, Wickham & Watoto

Hey,

I should be off getting my bag packed for work, so of course I'm writing a quick post instead. An early start awaits tomorrow (3am-ish) as I'm off to Sydney for the next couple of days, and our company likes to make sure we don't waste a minute by insisting that all flights are booked for 6am. I say 3-ish because, although I would normally leave the house by 4:00am, tomorrow I have to drop in at my local office to collect something on the way to the airport. Yay! I'm also heading back to Brisbane for the next couple of weeks, so not really looking forward to that. We've thought about trying to bring Mel & Jessica up with me, and even trying to get out to Wiggles World (it's part of Dreamworld I think), but it may prove just a little too difficult - particularly as they have me working night shift while I'm up there (10pm starts I believe).

Getting off the topic of Work as quickly as I can (which is not nearly soon enough), have you heard of Phil Wickham yet? If not, I'm pretty sure you will soon. We picked up his self-titled CD last week, after hearing just a snippet of "Grace" on the radio, and have to say that it is a wonderful album. If you go to his website (http://www.philwickham.com), you can hear some of the songs yourself. I think "Grace" is still my favourite (wonderful lyrics, passionate delivery), but it's a CD filled with some very unique & memorable tracks. Beautiful stuff.

Speaking of music, we ventured out on Sunday morning to see/hear/experience the Watoto Childrens Choir peforming at Berwick COC. I hadn't seen them before, but Mel had unexpectedly caught a preview show at the shopping centre in Fountain Gate on Saturday. If you haven't seen 21 Ugandan orphans beaming with delight as they dance and sing about being rescued (Watoto is a Christian outreach and purpose-built 'village' that provides family, housing, health, education and leadership traing to Ugandan orphans), then you're missing out. I think they are still going to be touring in Victoria for awhile, so if you get a chance to see them, I heartily recommend it. Here's their website: http://www.watoto.com/

Must go and pack! Good night.

M