Oooh, hope you have lunch somewhere you really enjoy.

Found the links. Rotten.com [link] is not going to help us relax enough to rest.

And I suppose I am the last person on the internet to check out Fark.com [link] .

Going to try to sleep now. Rest well, sj.

Sleep well, WS.

At last, my year-long plan has reached fruition! I... have a cleaner! And hopefully, soon I can add a clean apartment to the list.

Meanwhile, I have returned from a long weekend (Queen's Birthday) in Canberra, and Wallybee has now met all my immediate family. Older brother was friendly. His life continues to be chaotic. Sister and her hubby have themselves a very livable apartment. Nearly-two nephew has a favourite game, called "Run up and down the hall while stepdaddy is trying to sleep." From what little I saw, he's become quite adept at it. And he's started speaking, roughly 10% of which is composed of recognisable words.

Some gems from my sister over the weekend:

[while talking about missing school] "I went to school even when I was hung over! I had a good ethic."

[on not giving out our dad's personal details to potential stalkers] "I'm not complacent about psychopaths!"

[on making demands on our father] "I don't badger him! My conversations are more pointless!"

On the last day (lovely weather) we visited the aviary, where I had at least five lorikeets clambering over me at one stage, and a large Alexandrine parrot ate half a button from my coat. Cheeky bugger. But they had a golden pheasant! Pretty much the highlight of the trip.

And Sunday was the Wallybee's birthday. I hadn't realised, I knew it was in June but thought it was next weekend. I took her out for a rather fabulous meal in a restaurant with a view overlooking Canberra at night.

The upshot of it all is: my family likes her, and she thinks Canberra rocks. And if I win too comprehensively at Yinsh, she will leap over the board to try to throttle me. Good weekend!

BT, I'm glad things are going well with the Wallybee and that your family liked her.

I think I am going to try to grab one more hour of sleep.

Good luck getting some sleep, sj.

{{{Gud}}}

I'm playing the shower game, once again. Must get in it!

Gronk. I had Teacup Guy put the water on the boil before he left. It worked better for me than an alarm, because I couldn't get the whistling sound to stop until I got out of bed. Mom will be here soon.

Yo - where is everyone? It is so quiet in here this morning.

I was up late working on school stuff. I got most of what I needed to get done, done - but there is still quite the list left to go.

Anyone have any hints on getting a good car rental deal?

It is very quiet in here this morning.

It worked better for me than an alarm, because I couldn't get the whistling sound to stop until I got out of bed.

Very effective. Have fun with your mom today!

Anyone have any hints on getting a good car rental deal?

Sometimes they run specials online, Suzi, but other than that I got nothin'.

Sara is so sick this morning -- a really juicy cough that just won't stop. The funny thing is, she seems so pissed off about it. Like her little body has betrayed her.

Oh, poor little Sara.