Category Archives: Blog

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The Rules of being a good Customer

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Posted by Craig on March 3, 2010 – 9:41 am
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I wrote this in 2003 when I was still working in a shop doing customer service (Dick Smith Powerhouse at Penrith).

1.  DO NOT ask for a receipt.  They print out automatically and you will get one whether you like it or not.

2.  DO wash yourself before entering a shop, and putting on some clean clothes won’t go astray.

3.  DO NOT talk on your mobile phone while purchasing items, it is very rude.

4a.  DO remember your post code!  If you have recently moved to a new area, you are exempt from this rule for a period of 2 months.
4b.  DO NOT say “Gee, I never write letters to myself!” when you cannot remember you post code.  You have to write your address on the back of the envelope anyway, not to mention the numerous forms you have to fill out nowadays.

5.  DO NOT fold you notes.  This rule may or may not apply to people in countries other than Australia, it depends on what your notes are made of.  Australian Notes are made of plastic, and sit horribly in the till when the customers fold them up.

6.  DO check the prices of things before you pick them off the shelf.  If they scan at the wrong price, the register operator has no way of knowing.

(these rules are subject to change at any time and without notice)

Having said this, I don’t follow this last rule. I never check prices, but I never complain about the price either, so I’m still a good customer!

Uni on hold

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Posted by Craig on February 15, 2010 – 9:02 am
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Well, I had to put this goal on hold. I was all set to start Uni, but then my Father had a bad fall, and has gotten a lot weaker since then, so I put my Uni on hold so I could stay at home to take better care of him. He was doing well, which was why I thought I could take the time to go to Uni, but now I can’t see that happening.

I’m going to look into doing it via correspondance.

See more progress on: go to university

My Internet Addiction

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Posted by Craig on February 14, 2010 – 7:50 am
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So late Friday night my Internet died. As it turns out, some idiot cut a cable somewhere in the area, so I was without the Internet until they fixed it, late Saturday night.

24 hours without the Internet was HELL. Yes, I’m addicted to the Internet, and without it, I barely got anything done. I did no writing on Friday and Saturday, I didn’t exercise, and I didn’t clean up the house (which really needs to be done).

But having said that, I don’t think being addicted to the Internet is a bad thing. While I have it, it helps me out a lot. I can connect with my friends, and just knowing that it’s there makes me happy.

But without it, I’m lost. Thankfully in this day and age, I won’t be without it very often.

What do you think? Is it bad to be addicted to the Internet?

I get panicky about money

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Posted by Craig on January 18, 2010 – 1:52 pm
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I have so many things I need to do, but I can’t seem to manage to get off my butt and do them.

I changed banks last year, but I still haven’t cancelled my old bank account. I know that’s dumb, but I’m lazy and I keep putting it off.

I have my Superannuation in four different places, and I keep meaning to combine them into one, but again, I just haven’t gotten around to it.

There’s probably heaps of other things too, things that I need to do but have completely forgotten about. It’s stuff like this that makes me get a little panicky. What if I run out of money, and its all my fault because I was too lazy to go to the bank and sort some stuff out?

I’ll do it, eventually. It just seems like so much of a hassle. I know if I go to the bank and tell them I want to cancel my account, I’ll get hassled about it. They hate cancelling things.

And to combine my super into one, I just need to send in a form. The trouble is I also need to send in a registered copy of my identification, which means finding someone who is capable of signing, like a JP or something, and I have no idea how you find people like that. It’s so much hassle, why don’t they just make things easier?

God, I hate money.

All spiders must die!!

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Posted by Craig on January 9, 2010 – 10:32 am
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Holy freaking crap, I just had the scariest car drive ever. I’m still shaking.

Seriously.

So I needed to get a few groceries, and go to the chemist. I drove to Mt Druitt first to go to Woolworths, and while driving through the car park under a tree, FREAKING HUGE SPIDER crawls across my windscreen. Now believe me when I say this was one huge bastard of a spider. Light brown. It crawled from the roof, top right, right across the windscreen, diagonally to the bonnet at the left. Then it disappeared. I was praying to got that it fell off the car.
Freaking out now, I somehow managed to park the car. When I got out, I couldn’t see the spider anywhere. I convinced myself that it had fallen off, or jumped off. After all, what would a spider want with a car.

I did my shopping, then it took me about ten minutes to work up the courage to get back into my car. I drove from shops at Mt Druitt to the chemist at Rooty Hill, and it came back!

The freaking spider didn’t fall off! It ran back cross the bonnet, across the windscreen, then stopped right on the driver’s side window.

You don’t know how freaking scary it is to see the underside of a spider. You’re not supposed to see that part!!

I bashed on the window, and it disappeared. Now, this time, it looked like it fell off.

I am still praying it fell off.

Now I was picturing the spider clutching onto the underside of the car, like in Cape Fear.

I kept driving, did my chemist shopping. Then while driving back, I went around the block, and suddenly realized that I would have to drive past the spot on the road where I bashed the spider off.

It could jump back on!

I was seriously freaking out. I’m not exaggerating. I’m that scared of spiders.

However, as I was driving past, I did see a brown smudgey thing on the road. I’ve decided to convince myself that the spider fell off, and got run over by another car.

The freakiest thing is that when I got out of my car at home, there was a single strand of spiderweb hanging off the car door.

Seriously, why do spiders have it in for me?

Yesterday, while I was playing Afrika on PS3, a spider descended from the roof right in front of my face. Seriously, it was dangling between my eyes.

What is wrong with them? Why can’t spiders leave me the hell alone? I don’t go invading their holes, or wherever they live!

What I Want the New Year to Bring

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Posted by Craig on December 25, 2009 – 6:05 pm
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They say that whatever you are doing over the new year, that’s how your life will be for the rest of the year. Last year on New Year’s Eve, my PC, Laptop and xBox 360 broke all at the same time. I spent New Year’s Eve depressed, and as it turns out, the year ended up very crappy.

This year I’m going to make sure I spent New Year’s Eve writing.

I’m not making a New Year’s Resolution, because I don’t believe anyone should wait until the new year to make changes in your life. Make a ‘right now’ resolution.

Instead, I just want to list a few things that I really really hope the New Year brings to me.

Firstly, I want to finish writing something that I’m proud of. I’m sick of writing and writing, only to get to the end and hate what I’ve written. The current book I’m writing is a rewrite of the last book I wrote, and it’s going very well. So far I’m happy with it, and I can’t wait till its finished.

Secondly, I want to get fit. I’ve already started doing pushups, but I’m going to start other exercises as well, and improve my fitness. I’m just sick of being lazy, and envious of people who can walk up stairs and not get puffed out (yes, that’s now unfit I am).

Thirdly, I want a nice house. Now it’s always been my dream to move out, because I’ve lived in the same house for 32 years and I’m absolutely sick of it, but now that I’m taking care of Dad, I have to face the fact that I’m probably going to be stuck here a while. So I guess I just have to change my surroundings and make my house nicer. Not that I have any money for that.

Fourthly, I want a life godamnit! I’m sick of being a nerd with no life who lives on the internet. Its hard now, with Dad, for me to get out and do stuff, but I’m going to Uni next year, so hopefully I can get out of the house and start interacting with real people. Not that I know how to interact with people, but I can learn.

100% Honesty, Guaranteed.

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Posted by Craig on December 16, 2009 – 7:42 pm
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Okay, I ran out of things to blog about. So here is a random questionaire I found on some site, with 100% honest answers.

Why are you single?
I have never been in a serious relationship, and the longer you wait, the harder it is.

What’s currently bothering you?
My past. I think I wasted too much time farting around doing nothing important, and now suddenly I’m almost 33 years old and I’ve accomplished nothing.

When were you last outside?
I put the rubbish out earlier. But if you mean spending some extended period outside, on purpose, I can’t remember the last time. I avoid outdoors. I don’t really know why.

Does the thought of marriage scare you?
No, the thought of how am I going to find the right person to marry does. Also the thought of, when I do find the right person, will it even be legal to get married?

What are you doing today?
Trying to write, but the heat really distracts me, so its hard.

When is your Birthday?
January 26! I just figured I’d slip this in :p

Were you happy when you woke up today?
I am rarely happy when I wake up. In fact, I cannot ever remember waking up happy.

Do you have reason to smile right now?
I guess I could be corny and say, I’m alive and healthy and I have a roof over my head, etc.
But to be honest, no I don’t have a reason to smile.
I may smile a little later. But at the moment I don’t feel like it.

What do you do when you’re stressed out?
Eat.
Eat a lot.
I really don’t know how to cope with stress. I wish I did. Any tips?

Do you open up to people easily?
Not in real life, no. But on online sometimes I’m *too* open.
I’m not insane, but I have a different online personality. I wish I could be online-Craig in real life.

What was the first thing you thought this morning?
“7am, good I have a few hours to myself before I have to get Dad up.”

Who do you blame for your bad mood today?
Myself, really.

Where is the person you like right now?
I have no idea, I haven’t met her/him yet.

Do you care of what people think of you?
Yes, but I wish I didn’t. I wish I was one of those people that can do and say whatever they like, and not care what people think about them.

Who was the last person you took a picture with?
My 11 month old niece.

What are you looking forward to right now?
I’m looking forward to Dad going to bed, because it means I can pig out on noodles without anyone bothering me.

Does your crush like you?
I do not have a crush at the moment. All my past crushes have only liked me as a friend. Such is the history of my love life.

Is there a person who means a lot to you?
Not at the moment.

If you could go back in time and change something would you?
I’d go back to when I was about 18-19 and tell myself to wake up and get a life.

Is it easy for others to make you feel awkward?
What a wierd question, why would you ask that?
I feel awkward around people a lot, but I don’t know if they are doing it on purpose, so I can’t say if its easy or not.

Does anyone hate you for no reason?
I don’t know if anyone has ever hated me. I suspect a few people I used to know might have hated me, but nobody actually acted on that hate, so maybe it was all in my head.

What are you stressed out about?
Life in general! My future, my past… where am I headed?
etc.

Where do you want to go university?
I have enrolled in University of Western Sydney at Penrith, to do a Bachelor of Arts in Writing.
But I’m not counting my chickens just yet. With my luck they will stuff up my enrollment and I’ll miss out.
It happened before, last year I was going to study game development past-time, then they cancelled the part time course at the last minute.

What’s your favourite season?
Winter, because I hate heat! In Winter you can always put more clothes on, but in Summer when its hot you can’t do a thing!
Speaking of which, I get really peeved off when people used to complain about the air conditioner being too cold. If you’re cold, put more clothes on! If they put the air conditioner up, and I get hot, I can’t do a thing about it.
Also, I would like to put out that I never once complained about the temperature of the air conditioner. Yes, I would like a medal.

Do you know anyone who would just drop everything to come see you?
No.

Are any of your friends pregnant?
No, just fat.

Do you have someone you can tell everything to?
I do have close friends I can talk to, although I get the feeling they’d rather not listen to me emoing all the time.

Favourite number?
3.

Ever been in love?
No. Does it even exist?
I’m starting to think that love is a myth. People just settle down with someone they kinda like, and call it love, cause that’s what everyone else does.
I hope one day someone proves me wrong.

What’s the last thing you said and to who?
I might have said ‘meh’ to my Dad when I was helping him get dressed after his bath.

Can you whistle?
Yes, but I hate the sound of whistling.
I can’t stand it!

Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?
No, although since I’m being 100% honest, I wish I was the type of person who would look good with a tattoo. But realistically, no way.

Are you ticklish?
I used to be, but I have no idea if I still am.
Why is it important?
Who am I even talking to?

Any more questions you’d like me to answer with 100% honesty?

My Desktop

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Posted by Craig on November 2, 2009 – 12:18 pm
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November Desktop So I have been having wierd problems with my PC for the last few days, and decided to format and reinstall Windows XP. Now that I’ve done that everything is soooo much better. :D

I don’t know where that background is from. I found it after a random google image search, and it reminded me of the Lost island (even though it isn’t).

I’m using a program called Fences to organise my desktop icons. My desktop has never been so neat!

Learn how to take a hint!!

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Posted by Craig on October 18, 2009 – 7:22 pm
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Okay, so there’s this guy, Les. He’s a friend of my Dad’s and if he isn’t careful, I just might murder him.

My Dad knows him through St. Vincent de Paul. He’s always been really annoying (Les, not my Dad). He used to ring Dad up, then ring again five minutes later because he forgot something, then ring again five minutes after that, it drove us all insane. Dad ended up telling him off, and he stopped ringing so much.

Lately he’s really been pissing me off. Like the other day, he knocked on the door to see Dad, but Dad was asleep and I didn’t want to wake him up, and I didn’t particularly want to talk to Les, so I didn’t answer the door. So Les walks around into my back yard and bashes on the window. My window in the BACKYARD! It freaked me out. I opened the door and told him to go away, Dad was sleeping. K

Also, every Sunday someone from the Church comes around to do Communion/ Confession for Dad. Now I don’t really like the whole idea of Confession, but that’s a subject for another blog post. Anyway, we were waiting around all day for someone to come, and Les and the Priest finally come by at 5.30pm! I was just about to cook dinner, but I hate cooking while strangers are in the house, so I was going to wash up instead.

Now I need to explain, due to the way we rearranged the living room after Dad came home, anyone sitting on the lounge can see straight into the kitchen, where I would be if I were washing up. And I hate being watched, so I figured I’d go into the kitchen and shut the door, give them some peace.

So what happens? Les decides he can’t listen to Dad’s confession, and invades the kitchen with me. Man, I was holding a knife at a time and everything. I finished washing up quickly then locked myself in the bathroom. I didn’t want to be around him because he is still Dad’s friend, and I might end up yelling at him, or punching him in the face. I was so pissed off, if Les knew he can’t listen to Dad’s confession why did he come around in the first place???

So I wait and wait, and finally they finish. But of course, the Priest decides he needs to take a piss, so the bathroom is invaded too, and I retreat to the bedroom. The Priest left about 6pm, but Les stayed to talk to Dad. I wish I was the type of person that can just go up to him and say “Sorry but we are about to have dinner, you’ll have to leave.” But instead I waited in my bedroom and tried to meditate until he left.

So when does he leave?

7pm! What kind of person goes to someone’s house and dinner time and doesn’t leave until 7 bloody PM! FFS, next time he comes around too late I am definitely going to say something.

What makes me angry is this is the second time he’s come around at 5.30pm. he has the whole day to visit Dad, but instead he comes around at dinner! It almost makes me thing he’s hoping to scab a free meal off us, but I’ll be damned if I ever feed him.

Addicted to multitasking

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Posted by Craig on October 13, 2009 – 8:19 pm
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I read an article somewhere saying that multitasking was changing the way people thing, and lowering their attention spans, and I tend to agree.

Case in point: this is what I’m doing right now

  1. listening to beatMARIO – Night of Nights
  2. Writing my novel
  3. chatting in IRC
  4. YouTubeing
  5. Twittering

Lately I cannot do just one thing, because I find myself bored and fidgetty. If I’m playing a game then i need to be chatting or watching tv.

If I’m watching a TV show then I need to be chatting and playing a game at the same time.

I always have my PC and Laptop on at the same time. I can’t live without two screens, and I really want a third. That’s probably why I haven’t read a book in so long. When you read a book you pretty much have to do just one thing, and its hard. I’m getting back into it though – slowly relearning how to focus on just one thing. (btw I am reading The Serpent Bride by Sara Douglass, and Australian fantasy author).

I’m trying to wean myself off multitasking and do just one thing at a time, but its so hard. I can’t focus my attention on one thing for very long without wondering what’s happening in the rest of my worlds.