Ready, set, GO ...

My excitement can't be contained in the world of sports at the moment. Geelong are the AFL's top cats, although the mantra of "keeping a lid on it" is one I preach daily. Like an evil lover, they have let me down on too many occasions. In the NRL, Manly are second on the ladder to my second favourite team, Melbourne Storm. Boston are top of the AL East in the baseball while the Steelers, who have enjoyed recent success, are ready to begin another season, although I'm sad to say my good mate, Premier Brax, has gone west and is working for another team.

But the purpose of this post is to put a picture of Greg Oden wearing a Blazers jersey on this here blog. I was ecstatic when Portland got the first pick before using it on this seven-foot manchild, who has the craggy face of a guy in his 40s even though he's still a teenager. Apologies to that other esteemed broadsheet, The Oregonian, for "borrowing" this picture (left) of a Blazers billboard for this post. Along with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, I have no doubt Oden will restore the faith of those associated with Rip City.

The adventures of good and bad ...

Even at work, a change is as good as a holiday. Almost.

I had alluded to future developments in an earlier post - if that makes any sense - but as of yesterday I am no longer a reporter. Don't worry, I haven't been sacked by the esteemed broadsheet. Instead, I have decided to take a break from scribbling the various goings on of Melbourne's legal system.

The new challenge? Editing the stories of other people, my former peers, for a living. And working at night. OK, I might not have sold that too well to Blog Nation, but here's the good news: I'm finally moving to the sports section of the newspaper. When the opportunity came up I took it with both hands, like a strong contested mark by Cam Mooney. At the moment, I have my training wheels and L-plates firmly fitted and spending a couple of weeks in news before I jump across to sport, a department I have long wanted to work for. As long as journalism has been a pursuit.

There are good and bad things about the change. I'm going to list them, because there might be one day when I look back and say: "Why the hell did you do that for?" And then, I can come here, check out the list and respond: "Because it was a decision you weighed up heavily. You're from the Blog Family. You're pragmatic."

Good: More money, mainly because of the penalties I receive from working nights and weekends. Bad: Working nights and weekends? Am I crazy? Perhaps, but that's for another post. Good: What is crazy is waking up at 6.30am to go to work. It's nearly 11am and I'm still in my pyjamas. Writing about criminals, some of whom are crazy, is crazy. To them, I say goodbye and good riddance. Bad: No longer seeing my name in print. Yes, that does sound vain. Good: Having added responsibilities and the opportunity to develop my skills.

So the progress score has good beating bad by 3-2. In all honesty and seriousness, I had been toying with the decision for a while but as soon as I found out it was reality I wanted it to happen straight away. I felt like I had become stale and pigeon-holed, both of which weren't making me happy. I'm also confident that a change in career will bring about some positive changes in my life. Like going to the gym more and enjoying other leisurely things, like a nice glass of scotch and my dog, Baxter. Just kidding, although drinking and care for canines won't be difficult when I begin work at 3pm and finish around 11pm. I just believe that if it works out, it works out. If it doesn't, then I can try something else.

In light of the career and life change, bad grammar on this here blog will certainly no longer be tolerated. Neither will bad manners. But people just being their bad selves? Well, that's all good.

Javed (Me and Dad) ...

It's a given that you have to get along with your folks if you're living with them - at 29 - and that rings true here. My Mum is the best cook in the world but the topic of this post goes out to my Dad, who goes by the moniker of Poppa Blog (pictured right, with yours truly) in these parts. He's been a real ally lately in the mean old world of real estate and it's sensational having him in my corner fighting the good fight against the industry's bad people. There's plenty of them to go around.

Which leads me to think that despite my various backgrounds firstly in sales (I was once my KMart store's "Customer Service Person Of The Year") and now in communications (more on those developments in a later post) I would still have absolutely no career in real estate. While it has been a path I have considered pursuing - as Paul McCartney would call "times of trouble" - in short, I am the following: too ethical, too honest, too fair, too considerate and too nice. Maybe too modest as well.

So this post goes out to, as Atomic Bombie put it yesterday "The Orb Of Real Estate". Too bad there's not plenty of them to go around as well.

An ode to inner-city living ...

This image brings back memories for me, just as I imagine it would for the British Slugg and the DA from the OG. I put it up here to serve as a reminder of the good times that were had living in South Melbourne and as inspiration for looking at a (small and modest) place to buy. Poppa Blog and I ventured up the road yesterday to look at several likely prospects and, in turn, discovered the grotty, unscrupulous and sometimes downright unethical world of real estate in Melbourne and the people who make a good - but far from honest - living from the industry they serve. Apparently my late grandfather called them "starvation agents" and after yesterday's events, he wasn't far from the truth.

And with this post, I'm back. Sort of.

Sleeping ...

I've been on hiatus and considering my blogging options over the past few weeks. A self-indulgent time has been since the establishment of this here blog in mid-2005 but I'm wondering if it's time to pull up stumps.

Some might say "hooray", some might say "boo hoo" and some might say "ho hum". Maybe I might leave the blog as is and write whenever necessary but without the frequency of past posts. As always, input is welcome.

Thank you and good night!