Who’s on top?

Oh that hurt. There is nothing like the bitter test of six nations defeat. It’s a taste I’ve grown used to living in Scotland, but it doesn’t make it any tastier.

I’m not normally one of those ‘we can take a lot of positives’ Scotland supporters. Fuck positives. You need to win to take positives. Taking positives out of a defeat is one of the many reasons that Scottish sport is so shite. Too ready to accept a valiant effort. To ready to leave the field bowed in defeat (regardless of how valiant).

But today, I must admit, I’m taking some positives out of that defeat. That was the most complete performance I have seen from them in a long time. The defense was good. They fought the breakdown really well. They kicked well (where the hel did that come from, Mr Parks?) and they showed some willingness to really create opportunities in offense.

Wales didn’t deserve that win. I think there are more questions than ever for their entire team. Sloppy play and poor decision making. I’m not sure what is going on, but I think it probably stems, in part, from Gareth Cooper. He’s just not up to it.

So another losing six nations for Scotland. I’m sad for Robinson right now, I think he and the team are doing well.

-j

(oh yeah, and well done mossy for 100 caps)

Today I am in love with lemsip.

And whisky.

And not a lot else.

-j

Meh. I just knew it was too good to last. I’ve managed to stay away from getting a cold for ages now. And it’s happened.

I took much of the day today to drink oj and sleep, so I’ll hopefully have staved off the worst.

So that’s all for today.

-j

I’m not kidding. I was playing a (pretty hard fought) match last night against,well, let’s call him HR. He had me down two games to love until I staged a stunning comeback to tie the match. I was up 5-2 (I think) in the 5th game when he slammed the ball, maliciously, into my…. gentleman’s area. Needless to say, when I finally managed to stand again, I lost the match.

(In the interest of full disclosure, he didn’t mean to do it and it did bounce off the front wall first….thank god)

So yeah. Always wear a cup when playing an IT guy.

(That’s good advice)

-j

I tried to watch ‘Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull’ last night.

Shite Shite Shite Shite Shite Shite

(I told you none of them were good)

On the other hand, some things are good. I’m meeting someone for lunch tomorrow who seems really, well, interesting. That doesn’t happen a lot.

I’m also getting my first ‘graze’ box delivered next week.

That’s all I can manage today.

-j

I missed this weekend. Well, from a ‘keep my pact with Gareth and update this damn blog everyday’ point of view. From a ‘have some fun, see some mates and kick some ass on the squash court’ point of view, I’m doing just fine baby.

So it was Superbowl Sunday yesterday. We had a great day. Scotland sucked and lost to France in the 6 Nations, but that was really the only blight. I won at poker (well, this could be contested. It was down to me and Mitchell and I was smoking his ace (edit. I meant ass). Gman came into the flat so, in order to finish the game, I put a massive bet down on a pair of fours. I wouldn’t do that, normally. So morally, although we drew, I win), and the Saints beat the Colts in the Superbowl.

Friday night was excellent. I went ’round to G’s house and we got caught up on all the goings on with my former social group. It’s funny how quickly people can become part of a ‘former’ friend group, but also interesting how easy it is to slip back into a conversation. I guess when you know people that well….

Saturday was also ace. Hazel and Chris had me(Sue and her odd ballooning friend, Iain and his son Tim) over for dinner. They have a new table tennis table in the garage and I can attest to the fact that whisky + table tennis = hilarity.

So no grief about missing two days of shitty writing. I have fun to do.

-j

It’s a fault of mine. I can’t help it. Regardless of what state of mind I’m in, I have a distinct lake of filter between those feelings and my facial expressions. Happy Jordan is obviously happy. Angry Jordan looks really fucking annoyed. I have got to do something to develop a filter.

Last night was a good example. I attended a networking function at Hawke & Hunter. It was started up by H&H and my mate Craig McKenna. It was a nice night, overall. Pretty relaxed atmosphere. Having said that, the food was pretty bad and the speakers were more of a distraction than a help. But I like the idea and I think they’ll get better at it.

At one point Craig introduced me to a chap from Scottish Enterprise. We’re doing more and more business with high-growth companies, so Craig thought we could have a productive discussion. What a mistake. The guy was actually a complete and perfect example of a government employed tosser. I’m really glad we pay his salary.

My point, of course, is that I had trouble concealing my annoyance. I finally left. And left the event entirely.

This parallels my state of mind on the squash court. If I get down on myself, I can’t stop from getting further down. I can’t seem to let things slide off my back.

But I have to learn. So I’m starting today.

-j

I love morning meetings. Most weeks I have an early morning (networking) meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. I love them. Get up early, get out and get started…it sets me up for a productive and focussed day.

When I was doing my masters, I did most of my work and night. I would normally be in my office at the university until about 02:30 or so. For some reason it seemed easier to do creative work in the soft light of a lamp, rather than the harsh bright light of day. When I switched to my PhD, I started doing more and more focussed writing in the morning.

The night time is for day-dreaming (huh?). I can let my mind wander. Think of the new thing, try what I haven’t tried before.

The day time is getting it done. You know what you want and you do it. Write hard. Write fast.

If there is anything I miss about being in the university, it’s the evening sessions in my office. I miss pacing around turning over music in my head. I miss doing my ‘rocky’ air-punching when I came up with a new idea.

But mornings have stayed the same – take an idea and get it done.

And on that note, I’m off to write.

-j

It’s not as bad as it sounds.

It was a long fucking day, and I’m not sure why. My patience at work this afternoon was really really low, and yet we got a lot accomplished. I think I may have been acting really bitchy as well.

On the plus side, I can now draw a picture of a boy peeing into the wind without getting ejected from an art show.

So yeah, you just miss some things more.

-j

I’m optimistic. Who would have thought I could last more than 6 hours keeping this pledge? It doesn’t hurt that most of the time has been in bed, but who is counting?

Woke up this morning to a FB message from an old Uni friend – apparently Raymond Monelle isn’t in the best of health right now. I liked Raymond (still do). He has a wonderful sense of humour, an encyclopaedic knowledge of music, and is hysterical when slightly tipsy (playing the piano at staff parties).

He and I taught first year Music Analysis for a couple of years together. It was a lot of fun (plus I got to give someone a 0 for blatant, and excessive, plagiarism).

Keep going my man (how are the horses?)….

-j