Mercury State

January 31, 2004

Too Close Roo

After taking a nap, we headed into town for dinner. It was on this drive that I came to understand why kangaroos are so dangerous to cars.

We were driving down a small country road just before dark. On the side of the road was a large dark shape that could have easily been a bush, but it was a kangaroo. We braked and were nowhere near hitting it... it was about 3 feet from the car. It is the large kangaroo that I have seem. The one that I had seen about a week before was maybe 2 feet tall. This one was about 4 feet tall, and was a good amount of mass. Kangaroos could easily kill a person if they jumped into the window of a car... and could easily kill the car if hit at any speed.

Posted by Merc at 11:46 PM

Wine Tour

The wine tour was a blast. It was a small group of people. The total was nine. Two Americans, one Aussie, and six Brits were onboard. We visited 5 wineries (that I will list later). They were all great. No one got too drunk, and everyone had a good time.

More details to come.

Posted by Merc at 6:40 PM

Margaret River

As usual, I can not sleep in here; so I was up at about 7.30a. We had a great view of the hills and the ocean from our room, so I watched the ocean for about an hour. This is the way that every morning should start.

After everyone was ready, we took off into town for brunch. I had the world largest bowl of nachos... I have no idea why I ordered nachos in Australia. Note: the further from Mexico, the worse the Mexican food. After stuffing our faces, we walked around the town for a bit... and then headed back to the hotel to catch the wine tour bus.

Posted by Merc at 10:36 AM

January 30, 2004

Beautiful Drive

Made it safely to Margaret River with only a kangaroo sighting, not splatters.

It get more and more beautiful the further south you drive in Western Australia. There are so many trees, and everything is so green. I would suggest planning a vacation here.

We cooked dinner at the apartment and had a few bottles of wines (just a warm-up for the following day). The first night down was great; we had good snacks, good food, good music, good company, and good wine.

Tomorrow, we are off to on our wine tour.

Posted by Merc at 11:30 PM

Winery Bound

We head off to the wineries today. The instant you tell someone that you are going to Perth, they tell you about the wineries to the south. It has been a lot of hype; and I am pretty excited about going.

It is about a 4 hour drive south through kangaroo country. Apparently, the kangaroos like to hop across the road at about sunset; so it might be an exciting drive. Hopefully, we will just see kangaroos and not hit any.

Posted by Merc at 3:25 PM

January 29, 2004

Ong's Comments

It is so very different here. Coffee is practically another language. No straight regular old drip coffee here. It is all espresso based and it is called "tall black" or "flat white" I was really happy to be able to order a latte...at least I knew what theat was. And some coffee drinks come in a small glass. No mugs here. There are cups but only for certain drinks. Soooo very different.

They have chicken flavored chips..oh sorry "crisps" because chips are french fries. And not crackers, "biscuits". And I can't get used to calling a restroom a "toilet" it sounds so vulgar.

Posted by Merc at 4:03 PM

January 28, 2004

Photos

Here are 365 photos of Oz... and growing every moment.

Posted by Merc at 10:57 PM

January 27, 2004

Lost In Translation

Ong and I went to the Luna Theater in Leederville to see Lost In Translation. It is a good movie. It is very much an indie film. The plot is not clear as day; but you can walk away feeling like you got something.

I also though that it was a great movie to see in a foreign country. The movie is based around Americans in Japan. There were a few things that I could relate to in the movie in regards to dealing with cultural and lingual differences.

Posted by Merc at 4:18 PM

January 26, 2004

Australia Day

Beautiful fireworks, over a beautiful city. Even though I have Disneyland 5 minutes from my house and they launch fireworks every night, I can still say that this was the best and longest fireworks show that I have ever seen.

The only bad thing is that I am stupid and did not charge my camera before going. After about 5 pictures of the fireworks, my camera died; so you will just have to believe me about the awesomeness.

Posted by Merc at 3:40 PM

January 25, 2004

The Grand Tour

Dee, from my office, took Ong and I on a grand tour of Perth and surrounding areas. This is a beautiful country. I am not sure if I want to come back.

Details to come.

Posted by Merc at 10:35 PM

January 24, 2004

Safe & Sound

Ong has made it to this side of the planet safe and sound. She is more than a bit tired, but happy to be here.

Posted by Merc at 11:33 PM

Good Vibrations

The concert was great. It was out in a natural amphitheater. The music was not really my style, but it was great to see 4,000 Aussies go wild. There actually quite a few acts from the US. It is always good to hear an American accent.

Posted by Merc at 9:05 PM

Unlazy Saturday

I have not quite gotten used to the time change yet. On average, I am waking up at about 5a... even when I get to bed late.

This morning was no exception. I forced myself to stay in bed until 7a. I got up and hit the town. I have been walk all over downtown Perth and taking a million photos (which I will upload on Tuesday). I need to find a US to Aussie plug adapter before my camera dies.

Ong is flying into night. Stell and I are going directly from a concert to pick her up. I am very excited to see my wife. I took a trip to Texas for a week before I came here... and I have now been here for a week. So it has been a while since we could spend any large amount of time together.

Posted by Merc at 11:18 AM

January 23, 2004

Redback Canasta

After returning from picking up Ben's Audi TT (which is the sexiest car on earth), we spotted a Redback spider outside the front door of the apartment. A Redback is basically the same as a Blackwidow spider in North America. Stell decide to freak me out by saying, "I am not sure if they jump," as I was leaning down to take a photo. I found out later that they do not jump.

Stell, Irenee, and I played a game of Canasta and ate pizza. Irenee, Stell's 12 year old sister, plays scary well. She definitely gave me a challenge.

Posted by Merc at 7:55 PM

January 22, 2004

Mawker

The challenges of speaking a different language... or maybe just a different accent. We (Stell's mom, little sister, Stell, and I) went out shopping for a new bedroom set for Stell. I ask what color the carpet was going to be in the their new house and Stell's mother replied, "mawker". I am thinking that this is some Australian word. So I ask what color that is, and everyone looks at me like there is no way on earth that I could not know. After a bit of repeating, it turns out that the mystery word was "mocha".

This is not the only time that has happened to me. Some word are just said so very differently that I can't catch it the first time. It is often that I figure it out well after the person has left.

Posted by Merc at 8:48 PM

Snag & Dag

I am learning a few new slang terms. The one that I am finding to be the most catchy is "dag". It is a semi-insult similar to goofball, nerd, and the like.

The other one is "snag". I learned this one because somebody call me such. It is an acronym for sensitive new age guy... which I am sure I fall into.

Posted by Merc at 6:27 PM

January 21, 2004

Squid Salad

I decided before I left the US that I was going to try new things. Well, thing number one was a squid salad. If you even suggested such a thing to me, I would have thought that you were joking. It turned out that it was great... and I am now a lot more open to eating odd sounding things.

Hungry Jack's, also know as Burger King, is no different than in the States (minus the Aussie Burger). They also have Domino's, KFC, McDonald's, and Subway here. I think I am done comparing what I can get at home. The food is just as crappy, and I did not travel this far to eat crappy food.

Posted by Merc at 6:26 PM

January 20, 2004

Land, Work

I stepped straight off the plane and into the office. I did not do any work. Mainly, I met the Australian staff. I was quite brain-dead after the traveling. I honestly don't remember too much.

I watch a little cricket while trying to stay up until a normal hour. I am not sure if it is because I was tired or what, but cricket is confusing.

Posted by Merc at 2:04 PM

20 Minutes In Sydney

Due to the delay of my departing flight, my 3 hour layover in Sydney became a 20 minute layover. Fortunately, I made it through customs in what has to be record time. My boss had warned me about the tricky way to the domestic terminal, so I saved several minutes there.

I then caught a 4 hour flight to Perth. On which, I had the joy of sitting next to the most talkative Australian born. She was a very nice lady, and I enjoyed the conversation; however, I think I would have enjoyed a nap more.

Posted by Merc at 12:48 PM

January 19, 2004

The Big Delay

I was supposed to leave on Sunday to Australia; but after a few hours of delay, I made it onto the airplane at 2 am on Monday. While it was quite a bore to be hanging out at LAX, I think it helped me sleep for a few hours on the plane. For a 14 hour flight, sleep is the best thing you can do to pas the time.

Posted by Merc at 2:45 AM

January 18, 2004

Blog Delay

I am not going to be able to blog for the next few days... but you can expect a few past blogs by Wednesday... at the latest.

Posted by Merc at 5:03 PM

January 17, 2004

Travel

A fun day of sending Ong's grandparents off to Arizona. I think it is the first time that they have flown in several years. Ong and I are going to be watching the dogs for the 2 weeks that they will be in Arizona. It has been fun so far. Heh heh.

Posted by Merc at 5:02 PM

January 16, 2004

The Wall

I think jet lag might have caught me. I have hit this point where I can barely keep my eyes open.

Posted by Merc at 9:46 PM

January 15, 2004

Return From Dallas

After four days in Dallas, I am glad to be home. The best part of any trip is heading home. I had a great time in Dallas and got a lot done, but it just isn't home.

In fact, Dallas is not anywhere near being on my list of places to make home. Just the crazy roads in Dallas are enough to make me stay away.

Posted by Merc at 10:39 PM

January 14, 2004

What I Was Good At

In the past year or so, I have switched fields. I am no longer a graphic designer by profession. I do it as a hobby.

I am still trying to come to terms with that; in fact, it is even hard to say. I love the graphic design field, so it is kind of like leaving home for the first time. Or like going off to college, I have moved on to something that is better for me.

I still have a strong connection to the field, and I hope that never goes away. I am hoping that what I am doing now will cycle back around to graphic design at some point.

Posted by Merc at 7:23 PM

January 13, 2004

The Mercury Theories

It is becoming more and more obvious that I have unique views that don't fit into any current categories. Thus, it is more urgent to document my views, theories, and beliefs. By documenting, I hope to better understand what I believe and to let my views available to more than those that know me closely.

I have yet to decide on when and how I am going to start documenting. I imagine that it will just be a mess to be sorted out later.

Posted by Merc at 5:32 PM

January 12, 2004

Dinner With Oz

I very much enjoy spending time with people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. It is nice to see that life is so much different than the rut we live every day. There is just so much more than we can possibly experience or imagine.

I don't know why I find it so refreshing to be but a little spec on this planet. Makes me smile.

Posted by Merc at 7:07 PM

January 11, 2004

Failure of the American Dream

I think the American Dream, that helped make America great, is now the same American Dream that is making America crumble. The original concept of the American Dream was that in this country, you had the good chance of earning a comfortable life with your family. You could have a house, and a car, and not worry about your future.

This Dream morphed into everybody wanting to make it big. Get rich quick; look what you can buy; be a movie star. I think people today are disillusioned. They feel like life and America owe them. This feeling that no one should have to work a "low end" job to earn their way up the ladder. The concept of earning the American Dream is gone; people are try to find this magical location where someone is handing it out for free.

This is my response to where the pride went.

Posted by Merc at 7:29 AM

January 10, 2004

Microsoft Moolah

I have spent most the day creating a design job for our good friends at Microsoft. I was going to finish it today, but I decide to go drink some wine instead. Now, I am sleepy; and the job will get done tomorrow. Hopefully.

Posted by Merc at 10:06 PM

January 09, 2004

Turning The Crank

At work, I am winding up for a heap of busy. Monday it all starts, and I am excited.

I have been learning, reading, and preparing. I am ready to get out and start using all that I have prepared for. The next couple months are going to be very intense.

I better start planning my vacation now; I am going to need it.

Posted by Merc at 6:59 AM

January 08, 2004

Suspend

"I was waiting on a moment, but the moment never came."
- Flaming Lips

I think was have all wasted days, months, and sometimes years waiting for something that never happened. Sometimes it was our own fault; we imagined that it was going to happen, but it never was. Other times, it is just life. It should have happened; it looked like it was going to, but it never did.

I don't know why we blindly hope for the best; why we blindly wait for events and change. I don't know.

It must be worth the risk, right?

Posted by Merc at 7:17 AM

January 07, 2004

Humble Logic

I present the relaunch of Severed Logic under new bloggership. And for the new year, some new colors for Lucy.

Posted by Merc at 9:17 PM

Sanity Negative

This is the year that I was going to trim down the amount of domain names that I own... until yesterday. Yesterday, I handed over one of my domain names to a friend.

Lodokrap has been reborn with a new master. Buckle up, it is going to be a crazy ride.

Posted by Merc at 6:41 AM

January 06, 2004

Driving Me Crazy

Cars are great when they work. The rest of the time, they just suck up time and money. Horses were never that bad of an option.

Posted by Merc at 8:01 AM

January 05, 2004

Hot Hot Heat

This is why I like the band Hot Hot Heat. Their sanity is at my level.

"Regular exposure to insecticide has caused me to break out in hives. I'm losing weight. I cannot wait till Saturday... cuz on Saturday, my tax deductions make me function like a blue collar... white collar...? I don't know - so I gotta hollar. Anti-oxidants have got me causing accidents because my wine is spiked with pomegranate. If you've got just one, then slam it. Lack of consequence has got me making decisions based upon truth or dare decision making. No faking. So I ended-up taking karate."

Posted by Merc at 2:43 PM

Chess Canon

Still learning about our new digital camera. Featured today is, in my opinion, the best digital photo that I have shot. My goal is to use the digital to shoot roughs and then follow up with a nice film shot. I have a bunch of film in the fridge... just waiting to be used.

Posted by Merc at 8:35 AM

January 04, 2004

Starting Tomorrow

For me, the new year starts tomorrow. These first days of 2004 have been a vacation, a recovery from last year.

Tomorrow morning vacation is over; and I get to choose whether or not I do anything differently. I have a list of goals for 2004. I have made certain to keep it simple, specific, and achievable. When my alarm goes off, the count down begins, and I will see if I am willing.

Posted by Merc at 8:13 AM

January 03, 2004

My Big Fat Matrix

Last night, we went out and saw the final Matrix movie on the giant IMAX screen in Irvine. I felt the movie left a bit to be desired. I still enjoyed the film, but it suffered from some major plot holes.

Watching a movie on the giant screen is great. It was pricy to see it, but I would love to go and see another movie there. Bigger is better... at least for IMAX.

And for another Max, my friend Max come down to visit. As usually, it is good to hang out with old friends. Even if they kick your butt in chess.

Special thanks to Manda for noticing and her comments about this years to redesigns: MercuryFrog.com and Blackclover.org.

Also, Lucy's blog is back online at a new domain name. She is now located at HumbleLucy.net.

Posted by Merc at 4:19 PM

January 02, 2004

The Friday

Everyone should have this Friday off. After two whole days of drinking, who is really going to get any work done... and it is a Friday. No one gets anything done on Fridays anyway... and that is without a holiday; a drinking holiday. Four days of rest that is the best way to start a new year.

Well, I better get back to work.

Posted by Merc at 8:00 AM

January 01, 2004

Happy New Year

Sportin' new digs for the new year. Woo!

Posted by Merc at 12:00 AM

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