Dipping into the Blogpond

Have you ever been in a hurry, or otherwise not thinking quite right, and hit the “reply” button to an email, instead of the “forward” button?

Ooops 😮

Fortunately, no damage done – just what must have been a peculiar message to the recipient… with a somewhat curt “what do you think?” response to a business proposition.

What’s your worst email faux pas?

___________________________

Still super busy here with work. I’m recruiting at the moment, which will hopefully relieve the work load a little.

Interesting to see some of the qualifications of the candidates, for what is advertised as a data entry position. THAT would make a blogpost in itself…

And speaking of jobs, dLook launched a job site recently.

___________________________

The kids are on school holidays, and we had 6 days of high temperatures last week with Miss 5. Turns out it was a sinus/pharyngitis type infection needing Penicillin for the first time in her life. Fortunately no allergy – after the way she ballooned up after her pre school immunisation, I was a little concerned… (I don’t think I ever posted that picture, but it was very alarming at the time).

Miss 6, not to be trumped, was diagnosed with the flu and viral conjunctivitis.

Now my 100 year old grandma has been hospitalised with early stage pneumonia, she’s doing well, however, and expected to return home soon.

____________________________

School reports are out, which were for the most part extremely positive. Though I was slightly miffed my 5 year old’s teacher didn’t find it warranted to send a note home, or speak to me, about the “personal items” she continually brings to school which are a “constant distraction” in class. I can see I’ll have to frisk her for contraband before she leaves…..

Miss 15 is doing very well – coming in the top 10-15% of her year for most subjects. Phrases like “outstanding ability”, “perceptive”, “talented”, “intuitive”, “analytical”, “conscientious”, “thoughtful”, “delightful”, “excellent work”, “enthusiastic”, “inventive”, “excelled”, “mature”, “respectful”, “personal integrity”, “exceptional ambassador” and “highly valued by her peers” prevail throughout her report.

There’s just one teacher who appears to have an issue. It’s odd that a student who has never had a bad comment, and topped the form last year in a particular subject, should suddenly be “just ok” and in the bottom half of the class. Parent/Teacher night should be interesting….

Meanwhile my eldest is fiercely studying seemingly ambivalent about his forthcoming HSC.

____________________________

Yay! ADSL success. Not quite ADSL2, but one can live in hope…. Sure beats a 3 year wait, anyhow….

____________________________

I was saddened to hear about the passing of Olive Riley, frequently touted as the “world’s oldest blogger”. I quote her close friend Mike:

It’s funny to say this, but doing the blog with her, doing all the typing, the photographs, the movies, has been a big part of my life this last year, something that many friends couldn’t quite understand.

“Why all this effort for an old lady? they’d ask, “Are you in a hurry to age yourself?” (Me being 70 this year)

Quite the contrary. Olive Riley’s been keeping me young.

Her example says; if a woman who left school in 1914, can embrace the internet in her 106th year, what is there you can’t do, friend?

Well said Mike, these are truly amazing times and we should never underestimate the older generation’s ability to embrace the internet.

My dad, who turned 80 in June, got his first email address a couple of weeks ago. While Mum’s been online for a few years, this is Dad’s first real foray – so good for him! He just needs to get past the formalities – i.e. “thanks for your email which I received at 10.30 p.m. on the 30th…”.

Love you Dad, and I know where some of my more pedantic tendencies originate 😉

___________________________

Special shout out for Luke McCallum from Cyberdesign Works who I’ve known online since I started blogging and have recently had the opportunity to work with. They have been doing some work on a new site called Streem:

Streem has launched Australia’s first completely interactive, paid news network, giving Australians a place to add and earn from their own blogs, photos and video.

Streem is Australia’s only independent news service that utilises user-generated content, giving Australians real choice in news and a platform to earn from user-generated content.

They have an interesting headline – “Women need meat, men need carbs“. Must be late, because I read it as “….men need crabs” 😮

Well worth a visit.

___________________________

Heh – gotta love that recent trackback from North x East “NxE’s Fifty Most Influential Women Bloggers“. Don’t get too excited – seems Karen Cheng‘s position in my top 100 list was quoted 😀 Great to see a handful of Aussie women on the list.

___________________________

Given my distinct lack of time to post lately, I’m considering calling for guest posts – what do you think? Open it up, or leave it at fortnightly posts?