oh wow, it's me!

Maybe I'm going through my LJ-mid-life crisis or something. This would have to be the longest break I've taken from LJ to date! but, I'm here. I still love me LJ'ing, and wouldn't completely abandon it in a million years, but I just didn't feel like writing in here for a while.
but, a lot has happened, and I will try and work back. -- nope, still haven't read the friends page in my absence.
Yesterday was pretty wet, so didn't do much. J and I were going to do our long-awaited big breakfast, but it had to be put forward again. I didn't have singing as g was doing a wedding; a good thing really, as it was pouring!
Friday night I went to Warrandyte with Tim and another rachel for dinner and to see BABBA! it was absolutely brilliant; extremely loud though, but that was OK since i looove the music. Was glad I didn't bring Heartly though; she stayed with Ang and Ruby in her new place.
BABBA got through the entire show and then said their farewells, and I was wondering where the heck "Waterloo" was, since thats like one of their most famous hits! but sure enough, we were asked to get up on the dance floor and they did that and "DANCING QUEEN".
That day, I had to clean up after a sick pooch at work. the cleaners had left; it was gross, but she's my dog I guess!
Just a normal week at work was had there. Speak to RB almost daily and he's doing well; still has his up and down days though.
Tuesday night was the final computer users meeting for the year. I mannaged to bugger up the stupid SD-card slot on Plextalk by accidently inserting card in sideways. I didn't push it in too hard mind you, but whatever! -- so we recorded it to CD only to discover at the end, that the stupid thing didn't come out. Stupid me usually will do a test recording, but I guess I forgot that time, and that was the one time it didn't come out! -- at least John M had his Minnydisc.
Um, what else? last weekend i went to singing as usual. it was my second week for the new song "when i fall in love".
I installed jaws 10 on the Sunday; it's my final upgrade to my current SMA. I tried to get use to the new auto forms mode, but finally turned it off yesterday as it wasn't happening. haven't had a lot of time to work it out mind you. it works well on Facebook though, which I am quite excited about. jaws 9 lags something shocking, making it almost unuseable. but 10 is extremely responsive.
The wednesday before I had a serichsen stay over for the night he was in Melbourne. J came to dinner with us, and it was great. It was cool to get to know him a little better; I hadn't even met him in person, lol!
After dinner, J came back to my place and S was "show and telling" his many products he'd brought with him! -- Then J left and we crashed not long after; about 12.
He caught a cab back to airport the next day, and I made me way to work; so short and sweet visit, but am sure next time will be longer!
Guess that's about it, as far as I can remember!
Oh, I had booked my trip next year, but now am in the process of changing it as I'm no longer going to Germany. As it turns out, I still will be, but it will only be a few hours stop over instead of a week! on me way to Island! Hope it won't be too much extra! :( I will be now staying in Cornwall for two weeks, and i can't wait! originally I wasn't staying there long at all, but now C and J are retired, so they wanted to be able to show me around a bit more! yeah! :)
i discovered a new podcast yesterday thanks to Klango; the double trouble podcast.
I first heard their latest eppisode on klango, and thought they were father and daughter. when I eventually found it on the web, I went back and heard the first few eppisodes and discovered she was his wife! They both sound very nice though, and I enjoy listening to them. -- Klango is certainly a great way of being introduced to new podcasts, as i never go out and actively search for them on the web.
Well, that's enough writing from me I guess; I'll go and be amazed I actually posted again! :)
til next time, RdFreak

wow, i finally heard a leopard breathe!

I was listening to The Blind double Trouble eppisode on the apple mak, and found it very interesting! but the thing is, a few months ago, a few people did an extremely good review of the voiceover Leopard on apple Mak at computer users, and one of the things that stood out for me, was the fact that, they said it actually breathes. For the life of me, I could not hear this when they tried to demonstrate this over skype.
Later on, Dane then sent me another file so as I could attempt to hear this breathing, but i could not hear it.
but just then, when Edward (from the podcast) was setting up his mak, and figuring out the voice, it would read some long strings of text, and, it very clearly breathed! I was so excited, but kinda freaked out at the same time! Even though it kinda sounds natural, well .. it's just bizarre; having a speech synth doing that! Lol
maybe i will get an apple one of these days! but i am kinda building my account up again, after it took a bit of a bashing with my holiday and my m-power.
Til next time, RdFreak