I'm testing posting my blog from Windows Live Writer. Unfortunately, Blogger is making some changes, which I think will mean I need to move away from Blogger's service (maybe). Will find out through some reading over the weekend I suspect. Anyway, let's see how this goes - using a different editor, but still using Blogger to publish and then FTP to my website.

Over the past couple of weeks I've done a new website for a friend, who is bravely starting her own business this year (good on ya Meg!). If you need psychology services in Melbourne's outer east, please look her up;

http://www.meganturner.com.au/

Best of luck with the new business Meg :)

It's taken a month or so to write this but, I'm finally the "proud" owner of an iPhone. We'll get to the "proud" bit in a sec. After years of bagging them out, calling them all names under the sun, but in particular, the "JesusPhone", I finally succumbed. The reasoning behind it? Well, my previous phone, an iMate (HTC) JamIn, finally broke my patience. First up, I was always frustrated by how little of the phone I actually used. It was there to;

1. Make calls
2. Check emails (always in a pretty shitty format)
3. Play "Bubble Breaker"
4. Sometimes update Twitter, via the Twitter Web client

That was about it. Initially I used it to play music (stuck a 2gb SD card in it with MP3s), but after I got my iPod just over 2 years ago, it became pretty redundant pretty quickly. However, not looking for any particularly greener grass, as a phone, it did OK mostly. But then the external speaker went on it (the second JamIn that I have owned that this happened to). So I could only have it on vibrate... hard when you're in another room from it to hear it ringing. But then the downward spiral quickly came - it started to reboot, usually during a call, whenever it's battery got below about 60%. Then it became 70%... then eventually 85%. One night on the taxi ride from the airport it rebooted 19 times in a row - it would just boot up, then immediately crash. It was rebooting during client calls. It wasn't pretty. It almost got smashed a few times... but with no other alternative, I sucked it up and stayed with it. Eventually, I decided to upgrade.

When looking for a new phone, I genuinely wanted to stay on Windows mobile - but when comparing features and potential, the Windows-based phones just started to look a little bit weak for my liking. First up, I wanted internal storage for music. I have close to 200gb of music, and any given day I want to listen to a variety of music. I also didn't want to be forced to use a memory card (e.g. SD card) to load music onto - I'd much prefer internal storage. The iPhone I got has 32gb. Of the Windows Phones on the market, I think the biggest I could get was 4gb (and then expansion to 32gb via card). Because I also had an iPod, I wanted something I could sync with iTunes (as much as I think iTunes is a piece of shit software) - it didn't seem that any Windows Phone could do this (at least not that I could see)

Since getting my iPhone though, I've realised the true value of it (which didn't influence my purchase); the variety and usefulness of apps. Certainly, I thought when getting the iPhone, "Well, if something goes wrong with it, I know there's certainly a massive user base and I'll get support" - but I didn't recognise that the huge user base would also produce such amazing tools and software for the phone. After a month of using the iPhone, it's now pretty much indispensable for me (and I'm as surprised about that as anyone). Frequently now I won't turn the laptop on during the weekend - I can do it all from my iPhone. What I'm now using it for dwarfs the list above, but here's some of my more frequent uses;

1. Make calls (obviously)
2. Read and write emails, both on my work and personal accounts
3. Check the Weather, using this awesome app from Oz Weather
4. Check and update Twitter, via TweetDeck for iPhone
5. Check and update Facebook
6. Use it as an iPod (although I still carry my other one in the bag for the extended library)
7. Use it as a camera
8. Use it as a video camera (this has been great to capture the kids on short notice)
9. Read the news, via the great ABC News app
10. Used maps when I've been in other cities, or out in the 'burbs
11. Use Dictionary.com for "Word of the day"
12. Use it as a guitar tuner (a few times now - very handy)
13. Checked my plan usage via two Optus related apps
14. Played DoodleJump (a very addictive game)
15. Played Paper Toss (a very addictive game)
16. Played Firemint's Real Racing (just this alone - look at it - what an amazing game... for a PHONE! And, built in Melbourne as well!)

I think that list will do for the moment. I've also used the web client to surf and other apps here and there, but the above list is the more frequently used actions. I feel I'm getting real value from my phone now... and in turn it's becoming more and more part of my daily routine. For example, I'll check emails on the phone in the morning prior to turning on the laptop, to know whether or not I need to deal with anything on the way into work or not.

Finally, it's important for me to state; this doesn't change my view/love/addiction for Microsoft products. Hell, my whole career is based around Microsoft technology, and just because I've got an iPhone doesn't mean I'm going to pack it all in and go and work in the Apple store. It didn't happen when I got a Gmail account 6 or 7 years ago, nor when I got my first iPod 2 years ago. For me, it's all about productivity and what works for me.

Here's some awesome video Steph took a few days ago of Aurora spontaneously dancing to Glenn Miller with Clive, the inflatable dinosaur. I've watched it a few times over the past few days... every time it brings me great joy :) Hope it does for you too.

Labels: Aurora

Time to break out some goals for the coming year. Here's the things I'm going to do this year;

• Get healthy. I think I could do with losing about 15kgs. I'd like to get into running - tomorrow I'm hoping to get over to ActiveFeet to get some new running shoes
  
• Have some great holidays. It's been a while since we had a good family holiday, or since I've spent some quality time with Steph beyond Melbourne's CBD. This year I hope we get to Adelaide for a wedding, the Gold Coast for a family holiday and to New York for an extravagant week getwaway for Steph and I.
  
• Read more. I've really dropped off my reading in the past 6 to 12 months - I'd like to try and pick it back up again.
  
• Quit Smoking. Yep, gotta kick the habit once and for all. No sneaky cigarettes when I'm drinking.
  
• Keep on blogging. No targets, just would like to keep the cobwebs off this here site :) Will also continue to post songs here.
  
• Play a gig somewhere. Not sure where, could be Aurora's kinder again, or something grander, but I'd like to play another gig this year.
  
• Meet my long list of OBS related goals. There's too many secret-squirrel work things to mention here, but hopefully I can deliver on what I've committed myself to :) It won't be without challenges, but I'm sure I'll be having fun doing it.
  
• Don't kill the garden. In fact, grow it! Not sure that I will end up doing anything big with the garden, but I will aim to keep it watered, mowed and healthy
  
• Be an attentive husband and father. I want to continue to enjoy my family time as much as (if not more than) I have this year.
  
• Write and record a killer song. I haven't recorded anything for a while, and I have a computer setup here to do it, so just need to do it.
  

There's a stack of other things that I could list as goals, but I'm just going to do them - they don't have to be called out as goals. These are; remain Vegetarian, enjoy life, pay some more off the mortgage, buy a clothesline, help others where I can, love my friends and family and set an example for my children.

Wish me luck :) I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and successful 2010, in whatever form it takes.

Well, as years have gone past, I've always done a yearly wrap-up (see 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008). You, dear reader, don't get out of it that easily - here's my wrapup of 2009 for your reading displeasure :)

I usually review my goals, which I will again towards the end of this post, however, 2009 can easily be summed up as the "Year of being Dad". Upon reflection, I got the most joy, reward, challenge and emotional highs and lows from being a Dad this year. I spent an amazing year with Aurora and welcomed Atticus into my life and did it very comfortably - being "Dad" never felt so right. I loved playing the role of father to both of them and 2009 certainly solidified my life's purpose - to be the very best Dad I can be to both of them - to love them unconditionally and help shape them into the brilliant people they will both be. I could end this blog post on that note, but of course, I'm not going to :)

Also staying at a high level, the highlights of my year were as follows (in no particular order);

• OBS. Wow, I had a FUCKING BALL at OBS this year. I love my job. I love my company. There is far too much to sum it up in a single (or even few) points. I just genuinely feel like this is the place for me. It's different to SDM (which I also loved dearly), it's a progression, and I've drunk the kool-aid - I'm onboard for the ride. It's not without it's challenges and concerns of course, but as far as the perfect place to spent 40 to 50 hours a week, I've found it (for me).
• Concerts. I saw NIN, the Soundwave festival, Bodyjar (their final tour!), Slayer, Megadeth, Opeth, Dream Theater, Lamb of God and Devildriver. A "quiet" year in comparison to years gone by, but a great mix of concerts, and upon reflection a fistful of metal there :)
• The kids names. I seemed to talk a lot about Atticus and Aurora's names this year to people, and every time I did I was absolutely proud as punch of both them and their names. Atticus is such a cool little dude, his name suits him well.
• I discovered Black Hockey Jesus. No, I'm not joking, and please note I did say Black Hockey Jesus, not the other dude. This blog (and the few blogs / twitter accounts he has also run in the past) have just really hit a note with me. I've loved reading each and every entry he's made
• We (Aurora and I) went to the footy a few times. That was pretty fun, she certainly enjoyed, as did I, when Collingwood eventually won...
• I played guitar for Aurora's kinder, only a few weeks ago actually. It was a wonderful experience that I hope she or I don't forget anytime soon.
• Sitting by myself in the summer sun at a cafe in Beale St, Memphis at 2pm on a Friday having a club sandwich, chips and a cold beer. One of the happier moments of this year for sure. The atmosphere was one of opportunity, vibrancy and fantastic music. Hard to explain, but I had overall I had an ace holiday in Memphis this year.
• Surprising Steph with her iPhone. This was one of my moves of the year I'd say - I kept it well under wraps and she was absolutely shocked when she received it.

And the lowlights were few and far between (thank goodness). They were;

• Without question, my lowest point this year was hearing of a 5 year old girl being thrown off the Westgate bridge by her father. It still (seriously) breaks my heart to think of it, and I certainly can't talk about it anymore.
• Black Saturday, and it's aftermath. It was just so overwhelming - emotionally and literally. So shocking.
• Aurora seriously ill in hospital. Holy shit it was scary. I can still picture her in that bed, just so listless and "not herself"

So, here's the review of my 2009 goals;

• Goal: Give Steph the love and attention she deserves.
• Check: I think I scored pretty well on this front this year. I certainly amazed her with the iPhone, but I also took time this year to better connect with her - also on the parenting front. I'd like to give her another shout-out now. She's an awesome, amazing, talented human being who I love just a little more each day :)
• Goal: Sort out the garden at the new house.
• Check: The garden is sorted! It's awesome. I haven't put up any photo's unfortunately (however I'd like to think that I was too busy actually looking after the garden than to take photos...)
• Goal: Work on losing some weight and getting in better physical shape.
• Fail!: Yep, nothing happened on this front. Even though the scales say differently, I reckon I've put on weight this year.
• Goal: Make the conscious decision and/or commitment; Vegan or not?
• Check: After much procrastination and knowing what I wanted to do anyway, in July I read Peter Singer's book, "The Ethics Of What We Eat" and made the decision to go vegetarian. 5 months into it, I'm loving it. I feel a great deal better for having made the jump. Whether or not I make the next jump to Vegan remains to be seen, but I'm proud and happy to say I'm a vegetarian.
• Goal: Ride the wave that will be the next Neumann in our house.
• Check: Definitely coasted into the shore on this one. Atticus was a joy to have around (note, he was challenging at times, no doubt about that, but overall parenting has been much easier the second time around)
• Goal: Continue teaching and learning the lessons of life with Aurora.
• Check: As with Atticus, life with Aurora has been so joyful this year. She's made me a better person, taught me things about myself and I adore seeing and helping her become the person she is.
• Goal: Make an impact on OBS, and have as much fun as possible doing it :)
• Check: I moved into the General Manager role and ran around the office in a gorilla suit. Enough said I figure :)
• Goal: Spend some quality time with the Soesters.
• Check: Both Danyse and Marc made it over (separately) during the year to spend some time and I had a few trips to Adelaide as well. Although we didn't quite get quantity, I'd like to think we got quality :)
• Goal: Keep blogging.
• Check: I kept blogging - with 90 posts this year (or about 7.5 posts a month). Not too bad - certainly not as much as years gone by, but I was happy with the output.
• Goal: Don't start smoking again
• Fail!: Well, I've had many more cigarettes than I planned this year. I'm going to make a much more concerted effort in 2010.
• Goal: Hopefully get along to the MS Worldwide Partner Conference again in July (this year in New Orleans).
• Check: Done and done. I had an awesome time, and a great little break in Memphis afterwards as well.
• Goal: Keep playing guitar
• Check: I've played a lot of guitar this year, including a gig at Aurora's kinder, and countless "Happy Birthdays" at work. At home though, I think I've averaged playing at least 3 or 4 times a week, very happy with it. In fact, I think I've improved this year considerably I'm happy to say.
• Goal: Start a habit of posting songs I've written and recorded to my blog.
• Check: I can happily say I've posted 11 entries with songs this year (often with multiple versions/songs on them). Still a lot more to go to get through the back-catalogue :)
• Goal: Win the lottery (Division one).
• Fail!: I think I won Division 4 twice, which probably equated to a grand total of $60 or something. You gotta dream, eh? :)

All in all, I'm pretty happy with my achievements this year. I've got to improve my health... maybe that'll come up in my goals for 2010... but you'll have to tune back into the blog again in a few days to see :)

As I look back on 2009, I'm a happy and content man. Home and work kicked ass for me. Personally I grew and learned a stack of new things about myself. Compared to the challenges of 2008, 2009 was a great year. But that's where my content stops - bring on a bigger, brighter, brilliant 2010!

Love to all my family and friends,

Andy

Mostly everyday (sometimes I forget) I ask Aurora at the end of the day what her favourite part of the day was, and she in turn asks me. It's a lovely way to finish the day with her, and her answers always warm my heart. Today I didn't get to ask her, but I can tell you unequivocally what my favourite part was. I was taking out the bins for rubbish night, and I heard Aurora yelling to me from the house "Dad! ... Dad!". It just made my heart explode with happiness and pride to hear her call out to me. It's the simple things in life :)

Labels: Aurora

As usual, it's been a big couple of days in the Neumann house, with Christmas and Aurora's birthday (4 years old this year), back to back on Dec 25/26. It's been a really enjoyable 2 days though - it's been overall pretty relaxed, and Aurora has been an absolute trooper in the face of sugar rushes, overtiredness and the overwhelming prospect of a gajillion presents. Atticus also had a great first Xmas, in his "Santa's little helper" outfit. I'm yet to reconcile the budget, but I think we did OK as far as spending sprees go for 2 kids... we certainly tried to buy sensibly and practically (although probably went a bit overboard with Atticus - however I do take comfort in the thought that his toys will last a while and he'll be enjoying them more as he grows older). Tomorrow is the day we do a cull of the kids (mainly Aurora's) existing toys off to the op-shop / donations. I suspect the next few days should be pretty cruisy and low key (Steph has already told Aurora tomorrow is a Pyjama day). I hope everyone out there had a relaxing, safe Christmas and finishes up 2009 on happy thoughts.

Last night I saw Dream Theater again. If you remember from my last time seeing them, I rated them as the greatest gig I'd ever been to. Well, this time they were better, I kid you not. The band was just spot on - particularly Petrucci, Portnoy and Rudess. There were a lot of improvs and solo spots throughout the night. They played at the Palais - we had spectacular seats - third row from the front in the Lounge area - able to see everything really well. Their setlist was superb as well - very different to last tour, with full versions of 3 songs off the new album (and given two of those songs are well over 15 minutes long - one pushing 20 minutes - quite impressive). Here's the rough order of their set (and even though there's not a heap of songs - it went for just over 2 hours);

• A Nightmare To Remember
• A Rite of Passage
• Hollow Years
• Erotomania
• Voices
• In the Name of God
• Solitary Shell
• Forsaken
  ---
• The Count of Tuscany

Erotomania was probably the best live song I've ever heard. It was certainly the best version of it I've ever heard - but it was literally played to perfection. Not a note out of place. Amazing. On that note, Petrucci was killing it last night. His solos were spot on (sometimes he can play the solos a bit TOO fast live, oddly enough). But last night he was right in the pocket. Portnoy was having fun, I can't fathom his talent at times. Standing up playing the drums (and we're not talking straight 4/4 beats) while talking to the crowd. Deliberately throwing one of his sticks off to the side of the stage to his tech, just to have him throw it back while playing - all the while never missing a beat. In Solitary Shell, he even got off the kit and walked around it while still playing. Insane. Rudess was also brilliant - his two solo spots were unbelievable. He also, very cleverly, hooked his iPhone up to his keyboard rig, and used that to play some of his solo spot. Very cool.

On the back of seeing Opeth 2 weeks ago, I've very much been spoiled with these concerts. Two of the (if not THE) greatest live bands in the world. What a fantastic few weeks of live music.

Labels: Concerts

Today, I truly got to witness Aurora's character and experience a conversation that I'll never forget. We were driving back from a shopping trip this morning, all of us in the car, when out of the blue, a conversation transpired along the lines of the following. From the back of the car, after a few rare moments of quiet;

Aurora: "Daddy... I know that when you were a boy, Nanna was your Mummy, but who was your Daddy?"
Me; "Well, when I was about Laura's age (Laura being the 12 year old sister of a friend of hers), my Daddy died in a car accident"
Aurora; "Was it an accident?"
Me; "Yes, it was an accident"
Aurora; "What happened?"
Me; "Well, he was driving along, and something happened, and he hit a tree. And he died"
Aurora; "Were you sad?"
Me; "Yes, very"
Aurora; "Did you cry?"
Me; "Yes"
Aurora; "How did you cry?"
Me; "Like you normally cry - when you're very sad about something"
Aurora; "Was Nanna sad?"
Me; "Yes"
Aurora; "Did she cry?"
Me; "Yes"
Aurora; "What did she say?"
Me; "I don't remember"

And then there was a pause... for probably about 10 seconds or so. Silence filled the air. It was a very sombre mood (obviously). And then Aurora said;

"Daddy, I'm very sorry that your Daddy died"

Aurora - you are an incredible, empathetic, wonderful human soul. I love you more than words could ever do justice.

Labels: Aurora

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play a gig at Aurora's kinder. It was a blast - having a bunch of 4 year olds captivated as I got them involved in some songs. The setlist consisted of;

• Jingle Bells (a good opener)
• Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
• Alice The Camel
• Hokey Pokey
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• ... plus a little bit of SRV's Mary Had A Little Lamb
  

It was a lot of fun, and the best part about it, as pointed out by Steph last night, is that hopefully Aurora will remember this for a while to come. She looked so proud yesterday morning :)

Labels: Aurora

After the band broke up, I had this crazy idea of writing a whole bunch of songs (as I was really pumping out a stack of songs at that point) in all different styles and providing them to other artists to use (you know, what classic songwriters do). So, I wrote a bunch of rock, pop, punk and metal songs. Here's "Metal Song #1". The funny thing is that even though it set out to be a heavy metal song, I don't think it really fits the bill. It's a bit too happy... Recording wise, it's a repeating drum track, 2 guitars and a bass. I think it sounds a little bit thin... I can't remember if I wrote lyrics for this - probably not.

And while I'm at it, here's "Metal Song #2" as well. Again... too freakin' happy to be a metal song. I remember the day I wrote both these songs - I was in a great mood... and as dark as I tried to be, I couldn't write it. And for a metal song, this track doesn't have room for a guitar solo! You'll also note that it's the same click track as Metal Song #1, just a bit faster. I do like the guitar chorus with all the bits intermingling together (I think it's 3 guitars on this one). The verses have a nice drive to them as well. I did run out of ideas after the bridge bit though (as the song stops REALLY suddenly)

I might dig out Rock Song 1 as well, from memory I really liked that song...

Hope you enjoy these tracks :)

Labels: Songs

The new train operator, "Metro Trains", took over the metropolitan train network in Melbourne this week. As a user of the train system everyday to get to work, I can't see a lot of change, and don't really anticipate much either. As a bit of an "insider" as well (I have delivered systems for the Melbourne rail network for over 10 years now), I've seen it change hands a few times; the Public Transport Corporation, Hillside/Bayside Trains, Connex/M>Trains, Connex, now Metro. Each time, there's not a great deal of change operationally - the top brass often change, but those doing the work - the train drivers, controllers, maintenance and fleet crews - they all remain the same. The trains remain the same. The schedule mostly remains the same. I expect that there will still be a great deal of animosity and whinging towards the rail operator, regardless of who it is. Often though, people don't understand the complex relationship between all the parties involved - the rail operator, the maintenance provider, the union, the various government departments. All I'll say is that as long as I can still get to and from work on the train, I'll be happy.

I genuinely think there's a lot of similarities between management and parenting - and I'm not looking to demean, belittle or disrespect either practice by the way. Parenting lately, particularly with Aurora who is almost 4 years old, is dominated by bartering and negotiating. "We can read stories after you clean the play room". "You can watch something after you've had a sleep". And quickly becoming my favourite seasonal saying... "You don't want me to have to call Santa, do you?". Whilst these exact phrases don't exactly work for the office, there's often a lot of negotiating in my day to day activities and I find the lessons that I learn from Aurora are also in use in the office everyday - patience, clear communication, concise reasoning, and quickly determining what the "real" driver is.

Labels: Aurora, Work

Here's a little instrumental number I wrote that never got around to writing lyrics for. It's using the same basic click beat that I've used for about 4 or 5 songs now. And it's an Andy Neumann special - 2 guitars, a repeating drum track, no bass. I like that the verses "spread out" - both distorted electric guitars - one playing a little arpeggio, the other a simple melody line. My favourite part though is the change at about the 2:40 minute mark (which to me reminds me of Pearl Jam, not sure why). And the song just kinda finishes (as you can hear - very much a demo track - the click track plays out until I stop it :D). Anyway, hopefully a track you'll enjoy!

Labels: Songs

Thought I'd better take a minute to jot down some of the fabulous sayings Aurora has at the moment. No doubt they'll be lost in time as her language skills further develop, so here's some of my favourites words and phrases of hers right now;

• When Steph and I are having a laugh about something, she'll often start laughing madly as well and ask "What are you banana guys talking about?"
• "Daddy, I have a really <> question for you... ". Lately she's been using "good", "odd" and "interesting"
• Bah-que-tah for computer. "Daddy, your bah-que-tah is still on"
• "The Tank". She calls the ice cream container "the tank". When asking for a spoonful; "Daddy, can I please have some from the tank?"
• Guh-spect for "expect". Her favourite joke is told as follows; "Knock Knock", "Who's There?", "Zoo", "Zoo Who?" "Zoo'd you guspect?!"
• Guh-suhn-ya for lasagne. She loves her guh-suhn-ya
• Funnings for Bunnings. An old favourite that hasn't changed much.

That's about it for now (or at least that immediately spring to mind). Aurora's totally awesome.

Labels: Aurora