IMPORTANT: The following journal is intended for the use and viewing of approved persons only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive persons with low self-esteem, no sense of humour or irrational religious beliefs. Any dissemination, distribution or copying of this work is not authorised (either explicitly or implicitly) and constitutes an irritating social faux pas. Unless the word ‘absquatulation’ has been used in its correct context somewhere other than in this warning, it does not have any legal or grammatical use and may be ignored. No animals were harmed in the creation of this journal and a minimum of Microsoft software was used. Those of you with an overwhelming fear of the unknown will be gratified to learn that there is no hidden message revealed by reading this warning backwards.

Year View| Summary| Highlights| Month View| Friday 2 January 2004 (Day View) – Mum’s Birthday

Mon 29 Dec | Tue 30 Dec | Wed 31 Dec | Thu 1 Jan |   Fri 2 Jan   Sat 3 Jan | Sun 4 Jan | Mon 5 Jan | Tue 6 Jan |

02.01.2004 – Friday 2 January – Mum’s Birthday

Morning

• I woke up a bit earlier than usual, excited to give Mum her present, but just missed her as she went to town. I then became tired and lay down again.

Afternoon

• I set up Mum’s new stereo and Mum enjoyed playing her music. It seems to be all good, which I guess it would be, being brand new.
  Recently one of my friends, a computer wizard, paid me a visit. As we were talking, I mentioned that I had recently installed Windows on my PC; I told him how happy I was with this operating system and showed him the Windows CD. To my astonishment and distress, he threw it into my microwave oven and turned it on. I was upset because the CD had become precious to me, but he said “Do not worry, it is unharmed.” After a few minutes, he took the CD out, gave it to me and said, “Take a close look at it.” To my surprise the CD was quite cold and it seemed to have become thicker and heavier than before. At first, I could not see anything, but on the inner edge of the central hole, I saw an inscription, in lines finer than anything I have ever seen before. The inscription shone piercingly bright, and yet remote, as if out of a great depth:
  4F6E65204F5320746F2072756C65207468656D20616C6C2C204F6E65204F5320746F
  2066696E64207468656D2C0D0A4F6E65204F5320746F206272696E67207468656D20
  616C6C20616E6420696E20746865206461726B6E6573732062696E64207468656D
  “I cannot read the fiery letters,” I said. “No,” he said, “but I can. The letters are Hex, of an ancient mode, but the language is that of Microsoft, which I shall not utter here. But in common English this is what it says:”
  
  One OS to rule them all, One OS to find them,
  One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

Evening

• Jade drove over and I took my camera, with the wedding photos I’d taken at Shan’s wedding, back over to Joneses and picked up some photos Shan had sent Jade from Thailand, and then drove up to Shan’s place where, with much trouble and waiting, I managed to burn three copies of my and their photos onto CD’s.

Night

• Mum and I listened to some of the music I’ve got on this PC on her new stereo, and then watched “Black Robe”, which is almost too realistic to be enjoyable, but impressed with its realism, realism of a level not often seen nowadays with all the politically correct garbage surrounding indigenous peoples and their histories.

2:06am

• Loreena McKennitt’s “The Mystic’s Dream”, from her “The Mask and Mirror” album is astounding, and reminds me of “The Lord of the Rings”, in which I believe it is featured. I can’t even begin to describe it – it’s like perfect music, and on that note (no pun intended), I shall retire for the night.

Comment by kathryn – Monday 25 October 2004, 10:00 AM

  Loreena McKennitt's heaps cool. I was going to sing Come by the hills for the HSC music but then i bailed.

Comment by Ned – Tuesday 26 October 2004, 1:07 AM

  I agree. Some of my favourite music at the moment is hers.

Comment by kathryn – Saturday 6 November 2004, 7:30 PM

  he he he you wrote back. It's funny cause i expected to comment and then for it to get lost in cyber space. I only have one of her CD's at the moment from my old music teacher so by the sounds of things i should get a wriggle on and get her most recent stuff. I'll tell you who is really groovy Karl Jenkins Adiemus- the eternal knot.
  kat
  ps i sent u an e-mail so check it O.K

Comment by Ned – Tuesday 9 November 2004, 7:16 AM

  I’m afraid I never got an email?