Running like the Energizer bunny ...

Trying to complete 1000 errands today prevented me from going to Geelong's final training session today, but it didn't stop a reported crowd of 5,000 turning up. I hope to make up for it tomorrow when I attend the grand final parade. Should be fun.

The start of the week was a bit anti-climatic. I found out I got tickets on Sunday night when plenty of others didn't and then turned up to the club on Monday to find out they were standing room only. In the words of Con The Fruiterer's wife, Marika: "I no complain." It was just a bit of let down, but then I think of the plenty of others, some of them my friends, and of their disappointment. So K-Lenko and I will be flying the flag on Saturday, standing and all. And I'm starting to get nervous. Although people are doing pretty well. I've been so impressed with the outward displays of pride and emotion. The main streets of Geelong were awash with blue and white, I kid you not. Sometimes I want to take 100 pictures. Or at least bottle it.

Today was my first day of three weeks off. So what did I do? Well, apart from missing Geelong training, going to the dentist, getting my hair cut, walking the dog and cleaning up, I signed a contract to buy a house. Not to live in, I'm just going to rent it out like the other one and see how it goes. But as a result I've left myself with bugger all cash for my upcoming trip to Hawaii. So therefore, the trip to the casino last night with the Rayman - back in town for a week from Scotland - made even less sense. Oh well.

Haven't heard from K-Beezer and Cameroon or Momma and Poppa Blog so I hope they are alright, jaunting around Europe - somewhere. My time housesitting for the younger of those two fine couples finishes up shortly and I must say, I've had a blast.

Anyway, it's off to bed for me. Tomorrow is the beginning of some huge days, I'm sure you'll agree. Wish me luck.

Spendy September (let's hope it's successful) ...

The year was 1995 and I was an exchange student living in the good ol' US of A. My love affair with Septic Tanks started but something was missing. It was September and in my homeland both my favourite football teams - you should know them by now - were playing in their respective grand finals. And they lost. And I wasn't there to see them.

Fast forward to 2007 and there's a sense of deja vu. Geelong in the AFL and Manly in the NRL will attempt to avoid the repeating of history of 12 years ago. And they will have someone there who was absent last time. Which seems so so long ago.

And who is this mysterious person? Me! I got tickets. Just found out then that one my application to the ballot in the Geelong ballot was successful. This happen just a day after I snagged a ticket to see Manly play the following day. All I need now is an airline ticket! But I seriously feel bad for the many who have missed out on the Geelong ballot and I know a few of them personally. We'll be cheering for you!

I had intended to post about last Friday night, which ranks up there as one of my best days ever in the history of the world. Why? We'll you'll just have to stay tuned for that one, but I'll give you a hint. It involves a hot ticket, a football team, a member of a famous rock band, some good mates, a chicken parma and beer.

Yes, it was that good. And I have the pictures to prove it.

Tonia, this one goes out to you ...

I'm still convinced that Facebook killed Blogger. And unfortunately for the latter, it was a slow, incremental and rather painful death. But perhaps Blogger hasn't been read its last rites. A friend of mine, let's call her Starbate, e-mailed me this afternoon and wrote: "Your fans are waiting to see if you’re going to say anything about the football." In fact, one of those fans, Tonia, had told said Starbate: "Can you ask JB to hurry up and update his blog, I'm trying to be a fan but everyday I keep seeing the same old story."

Maybe the dwindling readership have grown tired with coming to this here blog and seeing the same ol' stories. I don't know, because I don't hear from them like I did in the past. There was the District Attorney, Paraletic Paramedic, Cousin Slugg and Trent Croad's Thighs, just to name a few. But they, like yours truly, are now all members of Facebook Nation. It's called progress. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

So, what has been happening in The Life And Times Of JB? Well, I'm housesitting for K-Beezer and Cameroon who are somewhere in Europe and will shortly be joined by the Blog Parents. But don't feel bad for me, because aside from getting free rent, I will be in Hawaii in less than two weeks time. In between that, I'm hoping to not go to one grand final but two. It just all depends on what Geelong and Manly do over the course of this weekend.

And finally, on the topic of football - in particular the Australian Rules variety - a work colleague, (via Facebook yesterday nonetheless) informed me that Googling the words "Geelong" and "keeping a lid on it" will list this here blog. "I was looking for a slightly more authoritative source of information but it was thrilling nonetheless," wrote Silky Dan. "You know you can link to your blog from Facebook? Just think how many people could access your observational nuggets then ... although, to be fair, I have installed such a link myself and have noticed no discernable uptick in blog traffic."

So there you had it, Blogger was pronounced dead but the defibrillators are doing their best. Please wait in the emergency room and hope for the best.

Take the quiz, hot shot ...

Winding down here at work this evening and had a bit of a blast from the past. I took ninemsn's gangland quiz and found this picture accompanying question 19: "Carl Williams, pictured in red pullover, is seen being followed by the media down a Melbourne street. Which gangland figure was killed on this day?"

Well, Carl might have shed some kilos being inside and I've done the same on the outside, getting below 100 kilograms again - and getting 19 out of 20 on the quiz - is also due to a healthy diet combined with a great deal of exercise. This subbing is agreeing with me. Not sure about how Big Carl, Fat Tony or any other large people with first names are doing though.