toosehooseonline

Bye Bye Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Mon, 26 May 2008 05:27:00 +0000

After almost 2 years and 169 posts Toose Hoose Online is following the small crowd of Dave, Guthers and Michelle over to the greener grass of Wordpress. You can now find the new look blog over here.

Don't forget to update you RSS feed to the new TOOSEHOOSE

h/t to Sam and Soph over at the fountainside for getting me into this whole thing...

Star Wars Nerd

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sun, 25 May 2008 03:54:00 +0000

I'm a Star Wars nerd from way back so I was excited to see a trailer for the new Star Wars - The Clone Wars animated movie. Check it out here.

These look good too:
Righteous Kill - De Nero, Pacino
Hancock - Will Smith
You Don't Mess With The Zohan - Adam Sandler
The Incredible Hulk - Edward Norton

Toose Hoose Italian Style

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sat, 24 May 2008 02:46:00 +0000

Starter
Garlic Bread

Main
Chicken Breast wrapped in Prosciutto and pan fried (Chicken Saltimbocca)
Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Oil
Steamed Broccolini

Dessert
Tiramisu

Scott and I were wondering what other desserts or recipies use coffee or more specifically espresso in their ingredients. I thought of some chocolate cake recipies and even a chocolate mousse that have coffee in them. I used 2 double shot long blacks in the Tiramisu - Yum!

Blogging is useful

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Thu, 22 May 2008 02:16:00 +0000

I posted on a blog of sorts yesterday regarding one of the 3 uni assignments I have cooking at the moment. When our lecturer announced that participating on the subject discussion board was mandatory for this assignment there were a few who looked a little daunted at the prospect. I put it down to my time on the blogs that I didn't share their trepidation. Last night I wrote up a brief explanation of the patient I planned to study and my thoughts on the two areas of health management I was focusing on. My lecturer replied this morning with some good advice and a very helpful and interesting link to a pain management site. Have a look if you're interested.

What has blogging helped you do?

Great Idea #2

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Wed, 21 May 2008 00:05:00 +0000

Electric blankets you can turn on from your mobile = warm bed by the time you get home.

Great idea especially coming into winter. Might be marketable this time next year.

Remember the Electrolux air con unit that could do the same - the TV ad had this lady waking up her lazy bloke by cranking the air con to freeze him out - for some reason all he had on was a sheet?!? If someone did that to me I'd dig further under the doona and stay there!

On The Go

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Tue, 20 May 2008 02:37:00 +0000

'On The Go' playlists on the iPod are my preferred method getting my music fix. Hooked up to the stereo I've had the Arctic Monkeys, Spiderbait, Jimmy Hendrix and Powderfinger randomised as the soundtrack to a morning of coffee, washing and washing up.

Strangely (or maybe not) I usually combine artists of the same gender in a playlist - the switching between male and female vocals is a bit much. Regina Spektor, Joss Stone and Cat Power is a good combo from the ladies. How do you do it?

Wonderful Toys

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:08:00 +0000

I was in Kmart yesterday looking for a present for Emily (decided on JJJ Hottest 100 CD) and while waiting for Kate to call me to confirm that this was cool I hung around the store. Security seemed a bit jittery about this hoodie wearing, nonchalantly wandering, stock examining young bloke...

Anyway, with a few moments spent in Kitchenware, Electronics, Car Accessories and Sporting I spent most of my time in the Toys section. There are cool options for the young and young at heart these days! A few highlights were:
- Nerf air powered rapid fire dart guns (not that new) and a blow dart tube.
- Super soaker with a refill port big enough for ice cubes (that's just mean)
- plush Star Wars figurines

I reminisced about cool toys we used to have:
- Bandit crossbow with suction cup tipped darts that we modified with thumbtacks (Heathrow Customs didn't confiscate these)
- Cap guns especially some very realistic ones we bought in the UK (Customs did take these)
- Super soakers of all shapes and sizes
- GI Joe - I still have these in a box under the house (and they're making a GI Joe movie)
- Lego - lots and lots of Lego

What were your favourite toys?

International Nurses Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:30:00 +0000

Happy International Nurses Day. We had a BBQ at work last week to celebrate and the hospital gave us this amazingly crappy gift of a plastic keyring with a torn square of paper inside on which way typed "Proud to be a Nurse/Midwife". They actually used a forward slash - LOL!

How funny is this action figure - with stethoscope and x-ray clipboard!

Babycino

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:59:00 +0000

I made my first babycino this morning for Adrian's son Nicholas when they came over for brekky and to borrow some movies for Rowena who's hurt her neck - get better soon Row! I wasn't really sure how to make one so had to ask Adrian. I over frothed some milk and scooped the thicker foam with a bit of milk into a small espresso cup and sprinkled some chocolate powder over the top. After first shaking his head at the proffered cup and spoon which I placed in front of the little guy we soon heard the clinking of metal on ceramic - I must have got it right :)

Any tips for my future Babycino attempts? Do you put some coffee in or is that a no no? How much chocolate? What should the foam to milk ratio be? What size cup do you use? Maybe I should do a Barista course ;)

Great idea #1

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:43:00 +0000

I thought it might be original - at least Lawso and I had grand plans after seeing U2 3D last week (fantastically awesome by the way!).

3DVD is what I want to see

Catchy, huh? 3D movies in the comfort of your own lounge chair but it seems someone beat me to it. The cinema technology has come along way recently but has yet to make the leap to DVD. Therefore I think I should see some royalty payments coming my way for the use of my cool catch phrase.

Aussie iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:31:00 +0000

Looks like it'll be here soon. The 3G version is the one to wait for!

Coldplay - Violet Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:33:00 +0000

Click here to get a free copy of Coldplay's new single Violet Hill from their upcoming album Viva La Vida. I think it's only free for a week - just found out it ends today.

Long White Clouds

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:29:00 +0000

We're about to leave for the airport so I thought I'd keep my promise and just quickly make a holiday post. We've seen heaps. Done some awesome driving tours around the top of the North Island - Taupo, Rotorua, Coromadel Peninsula. Visited lots of geothermal thingys. Seen heaps of cows and only a few sheep?!? Paid an arm and a leg for petrol $2.17/litre - curse my right foot! Eaten great food. Drank a few tasty beers and a couple of decent espressi. All in all good times. See you very soon.

Holiday Photo #1 - Sophia

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:40:00 +0000

Scott & Kat have had a baby girl! Sophia Grace was born 2.30pm on Sunday 13th April. Praise God! She's very cute and mum & dad are ecstatic (though a little tired & sore).

Just in time for holiday photo blogging:
She looks like she's crying but she's not (I'm not either, ok)

Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:04:00 +0000

Just finished night shift and am now officially on Holidays. We leave for NZ tomorrow to visit my Mum and David plus tour the top half of the North Island. Looking forward to heaps of food, driving the MX-5 and ride on mower, seeing NZ in green & gold (I'm taking my Wallabies jersey), possibly skydiving?!? and hanging with Kate. Should be good times though I'll miss my machine. Thanks to Mish for house sitting! Might do a post from the land of the long white cloud...

Studying and Procrastinating

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:12:00 +0000

I've a lot of work to do for Uni today so obviously I'm doing a fair amount of procrastinating - it would be good if you would all stop posting and let me work ;) The first assignment is due on Wednesday and the second on Friday so they are close enough for my adrenaline driven panic mode to be setting in. Actually I think putting those thoughts to type has just kicked the 'last minute' mechanism into gear. Yeehaa!

Daylight Spending

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:35:00 +0000

Almost as funny as an April fools joke (maybe that's why they changed it to April) is forgetting to change the clocks. We were an hour early for creche this morning! Those of you who know us well would be familiar with our penchant for sleep. I even joked with Kate as we drove to North Rocks this morning about how poorly we would fare if we were to have a baby.

So with an hour to spend we returned home to change the time on 12 appliances (only two of which were actual clocks!), tidied the lounge room a little, I synchronized my watch with the talking clock (phone 1194), Kate played on facebook, I checked the pantry for the ingredients for scones that I'm planning on making for church supper tonight and posted this. Priceless.

engage - SOLD OUT!

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:04:00 +0000

Engage tickets had sold out by 10am this morning! That is crazy!

Our MTS trainee called me to ask if I had a spare ticket - which sadlyI don't. If anyone has a spare can you let me know. There's a waiting list that any unpaid tickets will be distributed to after the 17th or something.

It's going to be huge. Do you think they'll put on a second weekend? How long are Carson and Driscoll in the country? KCC could have charged more - maybe I should sell our spares on eBay ;)

Jonah & The Big Fish

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:26:00 +0000

Jonah & The Fear of God

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:09:00 +0000

I'm leading church on Sunday night. It's been a while since I've led. Any hot tips?

We're starting a new series on Jonah. It's been a while since I've read Jonah. I keep thinking about boats, fish (really big ones), a plant that melts and sackcloth. I think I'll have a read before Sunday ;)

Jonah Chapter 1 (HCSB)
Jonah tries to run away from God and his mission to Nineveh.
He fails & along the way leans to fear God.

The photo is of our fish (not really big) called 'Fishy'. Dad and Celia gave him to Kate for Christmas.

Carcassone tactics for married blokes

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:50:00 +0000

1. Let your wife win sometimes, preferrably without her realising you are letting her win (NB I haven't figured out how to do this yet)

2. Don't beat her 4 times in a row (occasionally by a significant margin)

3. Suggest a different game - ie one that she regularly beats you at (eg Boggle)

4. Beg for forgiveness and wiggle your way over to the 'losers side' then offer a massage.

Good luck!

What is Carcasone?

Saturday Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:22:00 +0000

A near perfect Saturday morning today, except for the lack of sleep in?!? Woke my usual time of 0600 (not that usual on a Saturday but it happened) and threw together some banana and raspberry bread and whacked it in the oven. Set a timer beside Kate's sleeping head to take it out when done.

Up to church to mow the lawns at 0800. Nothing like pushing an engine on wheels to get the heart going. Beautiful temperature this morning if not a little dull (when is daylight savings starting?). Finished by 0930.

Doppio ristretto lattes and warm b&r bread with Guthers and Matt Fuller (on the mowing team). Now off to Isaac's 1st birthday picnic in Carlo. I'm taking my frisbee! Love the frisbee - I used to play ultimate for the Uni team back in the day - it's been a while though. Fun!

Check out the art that I knocked out for Guthers!

Smashing Pumpkins Last Night

noreply@blogger.com (Matt & Kate) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:01:00 +0000

Went to see the Pumpkins at the Hordern with Lach (my bro) last night and they went off! I saw them when they were here in '99 and have to say I enjoyed their old style better but there was no faulting them for the 10 year hiatus and new band line up (who it seems are better musos than the old team but look weirdly similar - Eurasian guy and blond chick - marketing ploy?)

Great review of the gig here with photos.

Amefufuka - He is risen!

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 02:42:00 +0000

Amefufuka qweli - he is risen indeed!

One of the few Kiswahili phrases I can remember from our time living in Tanzania. Easily recalled as I hear it every year on Easter Sunday from my family as we remember Jesus death and resurrection.

Jesus is risen from the dead. Read more here!

The Plurality of Pants

noreply@blogger.com (Mattt) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:05:00 +0000

Pants, trousers, jeans, undies, boardies, trackies, shorts...

Not only are they plural but these lower body items of clothing have a masculine nature - not that chicks can't wear the pants ;)

I think of some weird things as I'm falling asleep, do you?