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Five on Friday

  • I attended my first networking event this week. What’s more, I went by myself. This was a proud moment: I am an anxious socialiser, to put it mildly. And when the event was booked out, thereby causing a friend to miss out, I nearly decided to skip it. And did I mention the atrocious weather? But it was great – went better than I could have expected. I got there and it was packed, but just as I started to panic after scanning the room, someone in another department at work came over and we got chatting. Then I saw a friend from school, and then another old classmate, and it was all on from there.
  • On Monday, T and I attended a research session. It was by far the weirdest market research I’ve ever done, but apparently it may become more common. Basically, we watched TV for an hour, wearing a hatful of electrodes which monitored our brain’s reactions to the programmes. But hey, we got $85 each out of it and a really delicious pastry.
  • That was followed by the worst meal ever – a waste of nearly $30. We wandered all over town trying to decide what to have for lunch (it was well after 2 by this time). Finally, we ended up at the Thai place in the Atrium on Elliot foodcourt. I’ve had good food from there before, but their “seafood tom yum” contained just two prawns and some sad fish balls, and bore no resemblance to the hot and sour flavours of tom yum. Suffice to say it was watery yellow, with no red or orange tinge. As for the deepfried sweet and sour fish, I don’t know how it ever left the kitchen. They presented me with a plate containing a small, sad,  dried out snapper, accompanied by a tiny saucer of, well, seasoned vinegar.   The Gourmet Thai, my ass. I wasn’t expecting miracles, but I was hoping for something edible.
  • We blew out our internet usage this month, basically doubling what our package allows.  Telecom used to just slow us down to dialup, which was good: Orcon lets you keep going, charging $2 per additional GB. Ouch. Hopefully with a careful eye on our account we can keep it within the limits – which used to be 6G, but is now 7G thanks to the company increasing everyone’s limits for FREE – but if this becomes a regular thing I think we’ll be upgrading to a bigger package. We can double our cap for a pretty reasonable price, and change at any time.
  • I’m not the healthiest of eaters, as you may or may not have surmised. I wanted to make one of my monthly challenges to be eating better. But life, or more accurately, work and related pursuits have just kept me so busy, and since T is currently playing stay-home spouse, he’s been totally in charge of all things grocery related. Seriously, I have had some AMAZING meals since he’s been out of work. And I have eaten SO many veggies – I don’t think we’ve had a dinner in a looong time that didn’t involve a significant portion of them. From totally homemade pizza stuffed with peppers, onions, steak and cheese to roasted kumara, carrot and meat, not to mention amazing stirfries and other dishes, I am brimming with vitamins! It feels good.

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10 thoughts on “Five on Friday

  • Reply Veronica May 28, 2010 at 21:39

    See I can’t imagine having my usage capped, or charged for overages. I’m used to having unlimited access for the same price.

  • Reply laura/nomorespending May 29, 2010 at 00:14

    I struggled with networking events myself, I was very ok in my own work circle, but out of it found it very difficult; I’m glad yours was a success.

    I’m constantly striving for a healthy eating patten; it’s so hard!!

  • Reply quarterlifegirl May 29, 2010 at 05:21

    you guys get charged per internet usage?! Crazy….I’ve been spoiled by unlimited access here in the states.

    FYI, I’m copying your “five on friday” idea. And I’ve been working on that post I said I was….but I think I’m just going to email you instead.

  • Reply Five on Friday « QuarterLife Finances May 29, 2010 at 05:54

    […] quarterlifegirl under weekends Leave a Comment  I’m borrowing today’s title from eemusings, so the challenge will be limiting myself to just 5 things to share. (I figured changing it to 15 […]

  • Reply eemusings May 29, 2010 at 13:47

    Ahhh. Unlimited usage sounds like bliss.

  • Reply Fig May 29, 2010 at 19:34

    I’m scared to ask my boyfriend how the internet thing works. All I know is that when I was at his house it seemed to be unlimited. Not sure that it was though, but we use it A LOT.

  • Reply Stephany May 30, 2010 at 08:08

    I’m with Veronica, I don’t know what I would do if my Internet usage was limited! I would constantly go over my limit. 😉 Good luck with getting it back to normal!

  • Reply Sense May 30, 2010 at 22:49

    can i hire T to become my personal chef?? that sounds amazing…coming home to a fully cooked meal. aaahhhh, that’s MY bliss. why is he not interested in becoming a chef?

    coming here after my all-inclusive internet/cable package in the US (it was something like $62/mo for DVR, full cable TV package, AND unlimited high-speed broadband internet) was ridiculous. most americans don’t know how good they have it! most also come here completely unawares of how it all works and blow out the monthly limit within a week, pissing off their roommates. I have heard SO many stories! (p.s. i love orcon, they added a GB to my plan, too. i have the 10 GB/mo–now 11–and we regularly go over. argh.)

    i am very interested in having my brain waves recorded while watching TV and getting compensated $85 for it. I think I would pay for that experience, actually. how do I get involved with this?

    hurray for a social event that was less awful than expected. whew, i love it when that happens. good job! 🙂

  • Reply eemusings May 30, 2010 at 23:39

    @ Sense – The particular company was http://www.cash4comments.com.au/ – it’s pretty easy to sign up. It was the first time I’ve qualified for a project with them!

    Cheffing – crap hours, well, that goes for all hospitality in general. But it’s always a background option.

  • Reply May roundup « Musings of an Abstract Aucklander June 9, 2010 at 15:22

    […] -I guess there was a bit of socialising – a couple of nights out, plus the worst lunch ever after an epic afternoon of market research (we made $170 that day and spent $28 on the saddest, most pathetic Thai food ever. It enraged me, I […]

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