Storm!

In the light of Haiti and Chile the storm that hit Melbourne last weekend was nothing. However, I post a video I took of it anyway. Mind you it was far worse in other parts of Melbourne than where I live, but it was AMAZING all the same!!! Stirred some primal memory. I felt like a cave woman sitting at the mouth of her cave, both thrilled by, and fearful of, the noise of the rain, and thunder, and the spectacle of hail stones the size of pistaccios (it's what I am eating as I type this so that is what came to mind obviously). Thrilling!!!!!!!!

Where to from here?

This blog started life as an adjunct to the ICT course. As the course winds down, what now? I'll think I'll keep it going and so if you ICTers want to stay in touch this way, please do! Can't guarantee the content will always suit your tastes or interest as the blog morphs into something more personal. In which case let me know and I will remove you from the readers list.




Went to a fab exhibition and cocktail party recently at the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) in Melbourne. Ron Mueck - an Australian born artist living in LA. He's only been 'recognised' for his work since 1997. I can't tell you how moving -viscerally moving- his work is. If you ever get the chance to see it somewhere do make the effort.

Here are some pics I took (photography was permitted!). The one above right is of my friend Jane standing next to In Bed 2005. This gives you a good idea of the dimensions of this wax figure. I just wanted to climb into bed with her and feel all safe and tucked in!

And this baby is HUGE!

mystery sound week 12

And just for Anne! Here is what you were hearing in week 12 'My Mystery Sound". Was your guess right?

my not so dreamy-looking dream classroom

This looks far more pedestrian than it really is! There is lots of natural light in this room and windows you can open if you want to; one whole wall is in fact an interactive whiteboard, all tables have built in computer touch screens (see photo insert)and have Skype and a plethora of fabulous CALL programs and tools installed ready to go and students have unlimited downloads available. Each student has a notebook. There is a printer in the room but it is not on view. I should have added a quiet reading corner with a few bean bags but I ran out of time to re-jig the drawing. Imagine they are there near the bookcase. There is magnetic strip running around the room like a picture rail to facilitate displaying student work in hard copy form. Also the walls can be written and drawn on. There is a PA system linking all classrooms on each floor to facilitate assessments across levels.

The carpet is pleasant underfoot and students can sit on the floor for some tasks if they wish; the chairs are very comfortable and ergonomic, and the tables, moveable. The teacher console has internet access, controls audio and video and there is also a document camera. The airconditioning works all the time and the atmosphere is very pleasant and conducive to learning - the walls are sound proofed. There are a couple of large pot plants as well but they haven't been delivered yet! They are flowering orchids -dark russet and yellow.

AVATAR in 3D - magic!

I want to live on Pandora! What a magical film. I just wonder if most of the punters get the message -hope so.
(Oh, and the lead is an Australian actor.)

ee cummings

I've been trying to catch up with all the tips posted on forums and this is me playing with Vocaroo, a Web 2 tool Vale suggested in response to one of Mohammed posts. Let's see if it works.
http://vocaroo.com/?media=vxJN1GQiv2srUofJ6

and I can also embed it like this:




Bingo!! It does! Cool.

my year in facebook statuses

Facebook has an app that creates a collage of your year in status updates. However it doesn't seem to capture every post and I think it might even have an inbuilt censoring thing happening - you know, filtering out posts with 'inapproproate words'. So I created my own!

My Year in Status 2009

Julia has bought a car! A NEW car!!! Is thinking about going to the beach. It's glorious out there. Is trying to get rid of stuff! Big CD sort is a start. Is smelling the rain! Who really cares what other people think about? Just spent all Saturday night and most of today watching True Blood with my sister.......and loving it!!!!!! I wanna snog a vampire! Lust is an addiction far worse than smack!!! I just wasted 2 precious hours of my life watching a totally nothing film! Hate that!

Soooooooo excited about a wedding tonight!!!!! The last truly romantic gesture - a 'ding! Apparently babies and early toddlers become brand conscious via the 'drool factor'!!! Scary! I'll explain more another time.

Hate needles so this probably the closest I'll ever get to having a tatt!


Not a lot on my mind and it feels sooooooooooooooo good! Must be the Tapping kicking in. Lovely birthday! Friends made it so. Mwa Mwa (aka kiss kiss) to them!!! Just booked a ticket to Tokyo!! OOOOeeee! But not going til March! Anyone got any hot tips??? Thinks that daughters shouldn't have to mother their mothers! Julia took the Which mathematical function are you? quiz and the result is Riemann Zeta Function: Z(z) 'Mystery and wonder are your "prime" delights in life. You seek to apprehend all the hidden, complex patterns in the universe. Some think you are quirky, but they just don't understand you: they have not learned to think outside the box, as you have. You are a misunderstood genius.' Hmmmmmmmmm - yeah ! I think this reveals the hidden me - the Jools that dwells in the place that no-one sees. [Yeah! Right! Though I do seek to apprehend all the hidden complex patterns in the Universe. Truly!] Is coughing and spluttering her way through the grand final. Will I ever feel well again???????? Absolutely BRILLIANT! (re: YouTube video Music for one apartment and six drummers). Is LOVING this online ICT course she is doing but it does tend to make her a little 'reclusive'. Kicked a football around today and was taught how to hold the ball 'properly' by a 4 year old! Cheeky monkey! I adore this guy! If you've seen it already - WATCH IT AGAIN! We should have a Where the Hell is Matt? event this summer. Is supposed to be studying but is procrastinating! Loves having a Monday off! Annual leave not a bogus sick day so I could go to RMIT gym and not feel paranoid! Loves the Waldorf Diner in Fitzroy Street! Janey and Jools ( and Ziglet) drinking champers and eating oysters in 'gran's parlour'. Is already feeling the sun on her skin and the sand underfoot! Ah summer - bring it on. (P.S.Happy Birtdhay Jason!) Feels weird sometimes -what can she say? Spent all day at the pool party at Prahran Pool! GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is enjoying the view of the Target symbol...........oh! It is a TARGET!!! Doh! I ........... am............. so ..............................SLOW! (Also - and more importantly- praying for the twins who have just been separated in Melbourne. How amazing!). Is still on Team Edward although he was a little 'wet' in New Moon . If truth be told, were I 13 I'd probably be a Team Jacob girl! Had a few fab days in Sydney. HHDL is in town and it was great! Bought her first 'Tokyo' book today. Ooooo! Needs to de-clutter! Needs to get the hammock happening! Who has a drill?

To my tribe, sending you and your family and friends, love and light for the Festive Season and beyond and may 2010 reveal itself as a jewel. XxxxxxxxxAh - life reduced to one liners! Surely 2009 was richer than this?