Nothing Serious

Flight of the Conchords are making it big. The HBO series has just started airing here in New Zealand, and by all accounts it's brilliant.

But I can't get Prime, the channel it screens on here. So I've rediscovered the glory of their BBC Radio Series, which is what the HBO show is based upon. Each time it just gets funnier, as there are numerous references and running jokes contained throughout that might be missed the first time.

Who needs television?

But still I would like to see the shows.

On another note, if you're ever short of food I'd be happy to lend out my evil-genius-cum-miracle worker flatmate. Last night we had a surprise birthday party for my other flatmate, and what originally started out as a couple bottles of wine, some snacks and the like has turned into leftover cake, salads, kebabs, meat patties, chocolate brownies, about seven bottles of wine, a dozen beer and three pre-mixed vodka drinks. I don't know how she does it, but I'd be happy to lend her out.

Anonymous Lawyer

I sometimes wonder what kind of a lawyer I'll grow up to be. I've had quite a few discussions with colleagues over the last few days, and I think I'm one of those people that thrives on pressure and stress. It helps focus and drive me.

And for all the love of being an advocate, and taking that adverserial approach, I don't think I'm as much of an asshole as the people sitting across the table from me with this current dispute. I've never met someone who attacks the people rather than the positions. It's hard to explain, but his correspondence drives me to the extremes. They attempt to ridicule and abuse our client and us, without care for the relative strength (or weaknesses for that matter) of anyone's arguments. It's like he's trying to turn it into something personal. And I don't appreciate it.

I'm doing my best to steer away from being drawn into it, it seems petty, unreasonable and reinforces the archaic lawyer stereotype. The good news is that it's generating a fair amount of work, and I get to do a whole of research and write memos about the issues it's raising.

It's at times like these that I like to browse through a fantastic parody of lawyers found here, at the blog of the Anonymous Lawyer.

Someone left a link to it in my comments many moons ago, and it's only now that I've managed to share it with everyone. Interestingly if you go to his Anonymous Law Firm, the parody is continued with superb detail. I find it amusing, and strangely therapuetic.

The best part is, I don't live that life. I'm doing what I enjoy.

A Sense of Irony

It has become quite apparent that the weather gods take pleasure in mocking me. Put shortly, I was too early to gloat about the glorious weather of the weekend for now it is shit. Cold, dark, and miserable.

Which puts the time frame for completion of the work on our kitchen in serious dubiousness. I don't think we'll be able to use the kitchen by tomorrow, Wednesday or even the end of the week - they haven't even knocked out the exterior wall yet. Though that's a good thing with the weather as it is at the moment. No one wants to be left exposed in this kind of weather. But it still sucks nonetheless, as our lounge is truly now our kitchen. As is our study.

There are, however, things to smile about. For instance, I rediscovered this little gem: Bent Objects. Just go see this fine fellow's fine work, though I do leave you with one of his most recent examples:


Brilliant.

The Sacrifices We Make

I don't suppose many people know the feeling you get halfway through a conversation when you all of a sudden realise that the other person probably isn't taking you all that seriously when you look like a Lion.

That's right. The Masquerade ball last night saw me dressed and made up to the nines, along with some friends professionally made up by Body FX. I thought, however, that there'd be people who've made more effort than the group of us did. And I was wrong.

It was somewhat disappointing to see that the most effort people had made was to dress up and buy a cheap mask with feathers. I certainly thought the painted faces were original and unique. They also served their purpose for masquerading - not many people recognised me at first, and alot of people were thoroughly impressed. There were many many positive comments. One negative from a drunken guy in the Mens, but I think he had issues.

Anyways, it was a great night. I had a brilliant time. The only downside is having to take the make-up off afterwards, and I now have a new found respect for the time it can take women to get ready for bed after a night out. Though I should sincerely hope no one puts on as much as I had on to be a lion.

The removal of make-up is an artform lost on me then. As this morning I still had some black eyeliner on, and some black in my lashes. It filled my lashes out, defining what are usually the blond tips, thereby showing off their full length - My flatmates didn't like me for that. The other thing was that it really brought out my eyes, exposing them as the icy blue they can be somtimes.

Quite cool. Apart from wearing makeup to achieve that effect.

Too Early to Gloat?

You need not fear, for spring is here. Possibly even an early summer, as today was an absolutely divine day.

The botanical gardens, which serves as my front garden, is in full bloom and the spring festival is well underway. You need only see the photos below to see for yourself. The tulips are vividly colourful.


Coupled with that, it's nice to be about in shorts and a t-shirt again walking around the waterfront. Wellington is just a gorgeous city and its days like today that make it shine.

Well, I'm now in the throes of preparing myself for the Labyrinth Masquerade tonight. A dressed down tux with some professional body art on the face should provide a fancy touch. Stories and photos tomorrow.

Word of the Day - Humourility

While some cherish the strength to change what they can, others the serenity to accept what they can't, and some want the wisdom to know the difference, I'm more grateful to have the good humour to go along with it all regardless.

Remember the gutted kitchen roof? Well that's now turned into a roof, an exterior wall, and no kitchen available for use until the work is finished. Tuesday most likely. I had no response when I was told of the impending work over the phone, other than "We have no kitchen? But I made toast there this morning".

Strange to think how reliant we are on kitchens. There's due compensation, and it looks as though the work is going to be fairly quick as the contractors were already lined up. So not too bad. I just had to laugh at the bizarre situation unfolding.

Good thing I could keep that smile on. In an attempt to rejig my finances and sort out my financial health with the bank, I shortly found out soon afterwards that the loan I took out last year to help cover my Bucerius exchange was recorded incorrectly. I'm supposed to be paying a whole lot more interest on it than I currently am. Great. If I hadn't been so smart and tried to sort out my money, or asked about a whole range of options, this would never have come up. Go me trying to improve my situation.

Still the irony of it all is not lost.

Then, matters get more interesting. That's right, there's more. After the seminar today on IP insurance, which by the way is quite neat but you can tell it's run by non-legal professionals as its a good idea but no consideration for the uncertainties of litigation, three of us from work ended back standing in the office bitching about work. Apart from finding out some interesting movements and politics at work, and more about how they treat people, I go and start mouthing off about how little work I have and talk about likely plans to leave next year. It's not really news to my colleagues but, in the fashion of today, one of my seniors is still there unbeknownst to us. Serious foot in mouth disease.

Though it may have some good effect. I stuck around and talked to my senior after packing up my office, and it became quite apparent that she had heard me and my plight of no work. She accepted responsibility for the large part of it, in not finding the time to delegate work. But it was good to just talk about some of the articles I've been asked to write. More on that another time, as it needs your full attention to savour my geekdom.

But before we go, there's more. Upon picking up my car from the garage...the battery is flat. A door had been locked but not closed properly. Adding salt to the wound of the day. However, I decided to shrug it off as I did most things today, and attempted to crash start the car. In my suit. I hear gasps and people are expecting something good from here on in. Well, it all went well until the car hit the driveway of the carpark. And stopped. Stuck in the drive. Waiting for the roadside assistance. All 3 necessary seconds of it after 30 minutes of waiting. Excellent finish to an excellent day.

Now I lie on my bed, typing away, laughing at what today has brought. I am very grateful to have the good humour to face most things.

Casual Dining

Ever wonder what the inside of an old villa kitchen roof looks like? Well wonder no longer, for your pleasure I present our gutted kitchen roof:


The landlord and their builder finally came round to sort it out. And now our lounge is full of kitchen ware, chairs, and baking goods. Interesting times. At least there's a small refund on rent.

On the brighter side of things, work has said they'll contribute to my trip back to Vienna for the Vis Moot, and may get me to visit some associates while I'm over there. Excellent news - I get to make more international contacts, go to Vienna and the competition, and save my money for other purposes. Everyone wins. I'll find out on Friday exactly how much they will contribute and what is expected of me in Europe.

Though discussing work does require mention of the lack of billable work I've been given. There's just not much going round at the moment that I can help with. Sort of makes me feel a little unnecessary. So beyond feeding my addiction for sudoku, I'm doing a fair amount of personal research and education passed off as work related.

My personal favourite research topic at the moment though is the nature of intellectual property rights molecular gastronomy attracts.

I'm a law geek through and through.

Oh, and those suggestions for things to see here in NZ are still more than welcome.

Hilfen Mir Bitte!

Oh, and I need some help. Being a native to this country, I have a fair idea of what are the some of the sights and sounds, but I want to thoroughly impress my next visitor.

So I need some advice on what others with a non-native perspective would consider to be the highlights of their trip. Email me so no surprises are spoiled.

Avast!

For those of us on the right side of the date line, tomorrow is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Otherwise for the non-natives it's 19 September, but by all means feel free to celebrate early.

I've been given the hurry up to post some more musings, apparently they're neither coming hard nor fast enough. My feeble excuse is that I've had the pleasure to tell most people face to face (or the virtual equivalent) all the interesting things in my life, but I remembered that doesn't include everyone, so that battle was quickly lost.

So for starters I've got the gracious luck to be going to the Young Professionals Ball this coming Saturday. Work has somehow considered it to be a marketing and networking event, and that forking out $75 for a night's festivities, drink, and food is a worthwhile investment. Who am I to complain? The only catch, apart from Elaine not being here for me to accompany, is that it's a masquerade ball - a Labyrinth Masquerade to be precise. Costume. Fun.

But fun we will make it. The other representative from work, who by means of also being in a long distance relationship makes me wonder whether work actually thought this through so the two people most likely to not make assess of themselves are going, is having a little soirée beforehand. There our masquerade masks shall be professionally applied as body art to our faces. How freaking sweet is that? Professionally even. Rest assured there will be photographic evidence.

As for other interesting times - it has become apparent that this year's exchange to Bucerius is at full swing. The stories are vague as of yet, but it sounds like there's many a fun times being had, though I'm not clear of any gossip going on in regard to improving international relations. I shall endeavour to uncover the news as it happens.

Oh, and one of my favourite webcomics, which is on the links to your right, is definitely worth a view, if not to reveal my inner geek a little more. There's a few gems in there, like this:

Life is Full of Wonder

Life is full of wonderful surprises, twists, and turns. Well, my life at least. The best things always seem to happen unexpectedly and come from no where: the Vis Moot, the Exchange, Elaine, and my job to name but a few.

So it's with little wonder that the little musical gem that is Over the Rhine came across my path. Their latest offering, The Trumpet Child, is simply gorgeous. Highly infectious, twitchy jazz-like sounds, it's brilliant. Karin Bergquist has a truly velvet toned voice. Visit their website, listen for yourself, and decide.

Who am I kidding, this album just makes me shiver - it inexplicably makes me smile and think of You. Gorgeous, smooth and delictable rhythm, sound and experience. What is music if not to conjure emotion.

The other interesting thing is what drops into my lap - there's a chance to lecture for a short period next year, and I've been asked to write an article for the firm on copyright and commissioning of work bearing in mind the upcoming changes. It's given me an insight, and something I might spend some spare time developing into a bigger article - there's quite a few interesting questions that arise from all of this. Maybe a Masters on copyright isn't such a bad idea.

I'm Just a Big Kid

ratatouille |ˌratəˈtoō-ē; ˌräˌtä-|

noun

a vegetable dish consisting of onions, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers, fried and stewed in oil and sometimes served cold.

ORIGIN a French dialect word.

It's also a brilliant Pixar film. I do seem to be drawn to their films like a moth to a flame, and admittedly I was slightly worried going into it, thinking it would be trading off the success of its predecessors. I was ever so wrong. I should never doubt Pixar, they make captivating and richly layered movies, each one bettering the last.

I have to see it again.

Sunny

Fresh from the Botannical Gardens, this is for You:

Stimmt

Danke. Es ist perfekt.

This Rocks

Baking amazes me. It's surprising how the simplest of ingredients can come together to make the most glorious of dishes, and how sometimes it can happen in a blink of an eye. Most times there's just a mash of ingredients in front you, but when you add that last egg it all comes to fruition and the mixture results. Quite astounding really, the change in consistency, the change in appearance and the change in taste.

Little like Chemistry really, though without the tasting. Probably explains my affinity for both really. So when something like Molecular Gastronomy comes along, you know I need to find out more. The things people can do is mind blowing.

I'm just a big kid, and this is my equally (im)mature chemistry set. I want one.

Choices

A band that does amazing stuff live, and a band that can somehow thread Gerschwin into a song. You decide: