FrankArr

  Thursday, 28 July 2005

Quiz: How Weird Are You?

Silly quiz time -- This one makes me laugh

You Are 80% Weird
You're more than quirky, you're downright strange. But you're also strangely compelling, like a cult leader.
[listening to: Motherless Child - Portishead ]
3:21:44 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

  Tuesday, 26 July 2005

Vin Diesel in my house?

Following my off the cuff dissing of Vin Diesel in an earlier post Top 40 DVDs sold in Australia, something extraordinary happened.

We now have the said Vin Diesel in our house - yes, we got The Pacifier on DVD.

[listening to: Look What You've Done - Jet ]
7:47:08 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • TV
Journey home

I'm back following my trip to MGB in Atlanta. Here's my return leg

Local Time What Where How Long
1500 AA1023 Atlanta to Dallas 2 Hrs
1600 Waiting   2 Hrs
1800 AA2465 Dallas to Atlanta 3 Hrs
1900 Waiting   2 Hrs 30 Min
2230 QF012 Los Angeles to Sydney 13Hrs 30 Min
0600 Transit Get Home 2 Hrs
    Time Travelling 25 Hours

I found it a tiring trip, but a tremendous event. And after a good night sleep, all will be well.

I've written a few posts about ths trip over on my other blog:

[listening to: What's New Pussycat? - Tom Jones ]
5:35:46 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Organization

  Tuesday, 19 July 2005

On the way to Atlanta

I'm at the airport, getting ready to head over to Atlanta for a Microsoft event, we call MGB.

This is what my travel schedule looks like, which is worse than last year :

Local Time What Where How Long
1140 QF0043 Sydney to Auckland 2 hrs 50 minutes
1630 Waiting Auckland 1 hr 10 minutes
1755 QF0025 Auckland to Los Angeles 12 hrs
1045 Waiting Los Angeles 4 Hrs
1400 AA2450 Los Angeles to Dallas  3 Hrs
1900 Waiting   2 Hrs
2100  AA0310 Dallas to Atlanta 2 Hrs
0015 Transit Get To Hotel 1 Hrs
    Time Travelling 28 Hours

I'm not looking forward to 28 hours of travel and arriving at my hotel post midnight. I just got an email that my hotel has changed, so I need tio check-in, sleep, check-out and travel to the next hotel. Joy.

I don't expect any pity.

[listening to: Working For The Man - Mental As Anything ]
10:09:07 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Organization

  Friday, 15 July 2005

A poem for LuLu

A poem from my sister Rita, the Digital Diva

Lulu Lulu Lulu

You are such a cute shihpoo

We loved you because u were so lovable

We hope you find a lovely soft spot

In the special place in dog heaven

For cute lulu shihpoo

You are sadly missed by

Antony, Billy, Emma and Brice

Our mother Moira, who loved lulu the cute shihpoo

Will always have a place in her heart

For the lulu who stole our hearts

Our father Frank, who blogged about his new baby

Will keep her memory alive on his blog

Lulu we never lost you

because u will live on forever in the Blog and in our Hearts

[listening to: Gimme the Car - Violent Femmes ]
8:22:58 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family
Farewell LuLu the Shih-Poo - we hardly knew you

The worst possible end to the day.

Our puppy passed away following its encounter with a killer tick.

We laid her to rest in the backyard with the other pets who "have ceased to be".

She lasted 8 days from when she joined the family - a new record. Another victim of the Arrigo curse.

Lu Lu Molly Arrigo
Born: April 28 2005
Died: July 15 2005
Friend to all the family

[listening to: The Prayer - Anthony Callea ]
6:53:47 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family
Our puppy is sick

One week into the adventure with our new puppy LuLu and already we have drama.

This morning I came down the stairs and saw LuLu lying on the ground wimpering. This is not a normal state, as she is normally very active

The family got ready and took her to the local  vet. The kids were distraught.

The diagnosis is that she was bitten by a tick which causes paralysis.

Poor Puppy!

She is in the vet for the next 72 hours, so we have a dog free weekend. Hopefully all will be well by Monday.

[listening to: With These Hands - Tom Jones ]
9:55:41 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family

  Wednesday, 13 July 2005

What's Your Ideal Career?

Another day, another quiz

Your Career Type: Enterprising

You are engertic, ambitious, and sociable.

Your talents lie in politics, leading people, and selling things or ideas.

You would make an excellent: Auctioneer - Bank President - Camp Director City Manager - Judge - Lawyer Recreation Leader - Real Estate Agent - Sales Person School Principal - Travel Agent - TV Newscaster

The worst career options for your are investigative careers, like mathematician or architect.

Hey, what about evangelist?

[listening to: Like A Virgin - Madonna ]
8:39:18 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

  Saturday, 9 July 2005

In a Past Life...
In a Past Life...

You Were: An Albino Executor of Sacrifices.

Where You Lived: Italy.

How You Died: The Plague.

[listening to: The Closer I Get to You [Duet] - Beyoncé ]
8:37:05 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random
Movies galore

Over the past 4 weeks, I have taken the kids to see a movie each weekend. It's that time of the year when the US summer blockbusters come downunder.

So far we've seen Madagascar, Herbie: Fully Loaded, War of the Worlds and Batman Begins, but that's not all we still have Fantastic Four, Bewitched and Pooh's Heffalump Movie, in the coming weeks as well as some of the upcoming new releases we have seen trailers for such as Stealth, The Island, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Lots of movies for us to see.

[listening to: Be With You - Beyoncé ]
8:20:01 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • FamilyMy Interests
Presidents Corporate club @ St Kilda v Carlton

The nice folks from Bill Express have invited me to be their guest at the Presidents Corporate club for the game between St Kilda and Carlton on July 10th at Telstra Dome.

This is the first time I have even been invited to such a grand event and I am quite excited.

I am flying down Sunday morning to attend the game and then flying home in the evening -- what a jetsetter!! The only bummer is my flight is at 7am, which means I need to be at the airport by 6.30am!

Here's what is on offer:

Presidents Corporate club
Entertaining at its very best. This is the official VIP match day function, where the President, Rod Butterss officiates. Listen to his weekly address first-hand, gaining valuable insights on the inner workings of the Club whilst experiencing fine dining and exceptional service. Impress your clients in an environment that encourages the very best in business to business networking.

  • Entertainment
  • Premium two course luncheon or dinner
  • Half-time Devonshire tea
  • Superior select beverages
  • Gold reserved seating (Level 2)
[listening to: You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) - Meat Loaf ]
7:34:58 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies
Top 40 DVDs sold in Australia

Rob Irwin referenced an SMH article about the top 40 selling DVDs in Australia. He had 19 of these DVDs.

(Titles in bold = titles I own...)

  1. Finding Nemo
  2. Shrek 2
  3. Pirates of the Caribbean
  4. The Fellowship of the Ring
  5. The Return of the King
  6. The Two Towers
  7. Shrek
  8. Monsters Inc
  9. Gladiator
  10. The Lion King
  11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  12. The Fast and the Furious
  13. The Matrix
  14. Star Wars trilogy box set
  15. Troy
  16. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  17. Shark Tale
  18. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  19. Meet The Fockers
  20. Four Weddings and a Funeral
  21. The Incredibles
  22. Matrix Revolutions
  23. Matrix Reloaded
  24. Star Wars 2: Attack of the Clones
  25. Love Actually
  26. Lilo and Stitch
  27. XXX
  28. 8 Mile
  29. Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace
  30. The Day After Tomorrow
  31. Bad Boys 2
  32. The Last Samurai
  33. Spider-Man
  34. Indiana Jones box set
  35. Ice Age
  36. Gone In 60 Seconds
  37. Bridget Jones's Diary
  38. 2 Fast 2 Furious
  39. The Mummy
  40. Brother Bear

Well Rob, my DVD cabinet has 31 of them. Having 4 kids of assorted ages kinda drives the selection.

One conclusion you can draw from this is we arent big fans of Vin Diesel, Paul Walker or movies about fast cars, or men in skirts.

[listening to: Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf ]
7:06:54 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • TV
Batman returns with Batman Begins

I took the boys to the movies this afternoon, and we *finally* got to see Batman Begins.

It was a good old fashioned blockbuster, with a bit of horror thrown in. Lots has been written about the movie by folks better than me. I really like what's been posted at cinematical, especially the "what it costs to be batman" post.

And of course are all now sporting the Batman Begins skin for Windows Media Player.

[listening to: Return to Sender - Elvis Presley ]
6:49:57 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • FamilyGeek
LuLu the Shih-Poo joins the Arrigo clan

Here's something I never thought would happen - a puppy joined the family this week.

Her name is Lu Lu, and she is 10 weeks old - her birthday is April 28 - and she is a Shih-Poo, which is a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Poodle.

She is such a tiny little thing.

Moira went out with the kids and just bought it. She didn't discuss it with me or anything. We *had* discussed the possibility of getting a dog, but it had been a hypothetical kind of discussion.

I must admit, she is a really cute dog and the kids all love her - well most of the kids. Antony isn't really a dog person (he takes after his father).  The kids have all agreed to help look after this bundle of fur, and so far this weekend they have been good to their word. I hope this enthusiam lasts a while - we're going to have this dog with us for a while.

[listening to: (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I - Elvis Presley ]
5:07:42 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family
Happy Birthday to Moira - Let's see The Producers

It was Moira's birthday earlier this week - 3 dozen and one.

For a special gift, I managed to get tickets to The Producers which is running here in Sydney.  She had been wanting to see this show since it started, so it was a nice surprise

We went to see the show last night at Star City, which included a nice pre-theatre meal at one of the local restaurants.

As an even more special treat, we invited Moira's sister Cathy and brother Paul (along with his wife, Kim) for the night out. I suspect it was a bigger treat for them as it was "a big night out  in the city". They are all from Canberra you see, and apparently don't get out much - which I find hard to believe and just think it's a bit of a "woe is me, i am a country bumpkin who doesn't get out much" act.  It gets pretty boring pretty quickly, but I digress, as it was a special night for my wife and she had a good time. I learnt to just hold my tongue. That was another gift for my wife.

The show was a lot of fun. The show was very true to the movie and the Mel Brooks influence was everywhere. I'm motivated to track down that 1968 movie of The Producers on DVD. I reckon my boys will like it. 

[listening to: i should be so lucky - kylie minogue ]
9:59:28 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family

  Friday, 8 July 2005

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

No argument from me!

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic

At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung

You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping

Your caffeine addiction level: high

[listening to: Cowboy Style - Kylie Minogue ]
11:35:57 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

  Saturday, 2 July 2005

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

I couldn't resist...

Your IQ Is 140
Your Logical Intelligence is Genius
Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius
Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius
Your General Knowledge is Genius
[listening to: The Silence That Remains - Shiri Maymon ]
10:52:18 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • GeekRandom
What Slanguage Do You Speak?

This is a weird one. Good thing I got 100% Aussie slang. It would have been a worry if i missed that.

Your Slanguage Profile

Aussie Slang: 100%
British Slang: 50%
Canadian Slang: 50%
Southern Slang: 50%
Victorian Slang: 50%
New England Slang: 25%
Prison Slang: 25%
[listening to: Chacun Pense A Soi - Ortal ]
10:30:23 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

  Friday, 1 July 2005

Hello FY06

One fiscal year ends, and another begins. And I'm not the only one excited by this.

[listening to: Signs - Beyoncé ]
10:35:06 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • GeekMy OrganizationRandom