Discussion manangatang's Diary

[Yakker]

Is it my imagination or are you getting weirder?

Yeah nah it’s your imagination

Step slowly away from the thread PG, don’t make eye contact. Hurry

 

[harry000]

View attachment 862747​

Dear Diary,

I can’t believe how much of the week has already slipped by – I’ve been so caught up in having fun on Qinder that I almost forgot!

So far I haven’t really found a ‘match’ (that’s what the people call it), but there are plenty of likely prospects.

The wider community got involved and gave their feedback. According to them, the candidates considered most fitting for me are Tigerturbulance, harry000 and TheInjuryFactory.

I’m a bit scared of all of them, but I guess it’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. I'm just going to swipe right on all of them but in the meantime and see where it takes me. If that fails, there are plenty of other options.

I must say that things have otherwise gone sour for me at the Snow Dome. My erstwhile friends, Mr. Tebbitt and Simone, have been cheating on me behind my back.

Look at what I found while on Qinder…
View attachment 862750
View attachment 862751
Anyway, we move on and keep the hope of human connection alive.

What I’m thankful for:

There are a few things that made me a bit sad this week, and I found it really hard to see light at the end of the tunnel.

I read some old notes from Dr. Schnitzerhund to see what he’d advise me to do. I recalled that he once said that, in times where I’m not able to be happy, I should seek to make other people happy. Through this, I may allow myself to feel happy.

I decided that a good idea might be to do some crafting for my teammates at the Mt. Buller Demons (who are probably feeling down because of how terrible each of them has been at Qooty lately).

Proper Gander is big on interior decorating and LOVES her terrariums. I went through my old collection of dolls and made a really wonderful lamp for her out of one of her terrariums – I’m sure she’ll love it!

View attachment 862753

Tarkyn_24 loves to mix up some phat beats on his midi deck, but it was SO PLAIN AND BLACK. So I decided to give it a bit of a tszuj…

View attachment 862754

As for Yakker, well I know that he is ALWAYS on his phone, so I borrowed his phone case and gave it a bit of flair!

View attachment 862755

I’m already feeling better about myself from having done just these simple little things.

What made me sad:

Once again, Qooty is negatively impacting my state of mind.

First, the SUNS lost to the ******* Bulldogs on the weekend, and then on Sunday the Demons lost to the Furies.

This has only intensified the level of hatred and abuse directed towards me, which has led me to set up an email filter on a few common terms. "#sackmanang", "you are a ******* campaigner", "fu** you loser", "you'll never find a friend", "w***er", "dickhead", "shit for brains"

I'm a little torn on whether this was amazing or horrible, but Yakker cooked Tarks' new pet fish, Damian. He made us a Estuary Perch fish tacos, with avocado, lime, green olive and pistachio, served with a green mango salad. I cried with every delicious, harrowing mouthful.

I was also sad to note further impact of these tough economic times brought about by social isolation and global economic suppression. Our friend Santoz appears to have lost his job as a Humour Coach. On the positive side of things, he seems to be forging a new career as a Scoreboard Pressure Act King (mental note: see if you can find pictures or stories of the Scoreboard Pressure Act Kingdom, as this seems like a wonderful place).

Learning of the week:

Qinder is a great and terrible place.

It's a great resource for finding other people to meet and make friends with, but I've gotta say that not everyone has pure motives.

I was approached by someone on there - a guy who insisted on being called SNAKE. I think his name was CALL ME SNAKE. Anyway, this is what he asked me...

View attachment 862767

Of course, being really keen to make friends, I said 'yes' straight away, even though I didn't really know what a reach around was. I guess I just assumed that it was something that human friends naturally did for other human friends, and probably involved reaching to hand them a beer or something.

He asked me to meet him in a local Bunnings carpark at 10:00pm on Sunday night. That sounded completely fine to me, and I must admit to my heart skipping a beat a little when I got the invitation - he said he was asking 'for a friend', and I was looking for a friend!

It turns out that he wasn't expecting me to reach for a beer for him, but it was something completely different (and too rude to talk about in here, diary). I felt so bad for the misunderstanding that I did as I was asked, apologised and left.

Lesson learned.

Until next week

- Tang

Pass. You didn't look like Mila Kunis after the acid wore off.

 

[manangatang]

​

Dear Diary,

Great news – I feel like I’m really starting to connect with a human being!

Through Qinder, I’ve met someone who (up until recently) had a completely incorrect assumption about who I was, but who now knows better…



Turns out that beez and I can now be best friends and I can – with confidence – stop talking to an empty oyster shell and a wheel of gruyere. Things are looking up!

I can also now forget about silly dating sites, although I’m still a bit worked up about how Elite Singles not only rejected me, but called the authorities on me for my application.

In response to their sign-up procedure, I wrote them a short story (a first-person tale from the perspective of a public rubbish bin) that I think qualifies me as being elite...



They are obviously not as elite as they claim to be.

What I’m thankful for:

It’s no coincidence that my mindset has changed this week Diary – Qooty wins make me invariably delighted! My SUNS and my Demons both recorded much-needed victories.

For the SUNS, we apparently have a player called ‘Sam Flanders’, which I think is great. He even kicked two eGoals, which helped us win the game!

The Demons were less convincing, but I’ve gotta say Tarks finally stepped it up. I think all of those team changes I made must have helped lift his spirits (specifically, removing myself from the forward line). Who would have thought that listening to advice from your teammates might actually help?

What made me sad:

I found out this week that someone we thought we knew in the Sweet F.A. is actually someone we should have known better. Shock horror, Santoz was found to not be a league rookie after all.

This made me feel a bit strange if I’m honest. I’m not so much disappointed in the ‘scandal’ of his EKA ineligibility (because it’s obvious that sausageroll will win that). No, the real scandal is that nobody picked up on this sooner.

Anyway, on the positive side, it means he's pretty quickly elevated to 'league stalwart' status, so he's got that going for him.

I’m also in a sense of heightened concern as we are about to play the [team that shall not be named] this week, and I’m not sure how to approach it. It could go one of two ways – fight (spam the living **** out of them) or flight (ignore the thread and go and watch that Netflix series on maple syrup production that I’ve been meaning to watch). Watch this space.

Learning of the week:

Having received a warning notice from ASIO about my internet search habits (I was doing legitimate research for my next craft project, which I intended on using human hair for), I decided instead to invest my time this week on searching through the history of my proud club – the Mt. Buller Demons.

I have become enriched with information on the club and its origins, its controversies and victories. Here's just some of what I discovered...

• I learned that the Snow Dome used to have a naming rights partner (‘The Range Rover Snow Dome’).
• I learned that Tarks retired.
• I learned that ‘self interviews’ with interviewers who have innuendo-driven names was all the rage back in the day.
• I learned that cooney once did media.

My mind is suitably blown.

Until next week,

- Tang

 

[manangatang]

​

Dear Diary,

What a busy week it’s been!

It all started when I got a message from someone about joining their new SFA team! I suppose it came out of the blue a bit, given I’m already captain of and committee member for an existing team, as well as being coach of my beloved Gold Coast SUNS.

It was very clandestine and tempting, and I damn near signed up straight away. But no; I thought I’d not succumb to the allure of the sweet millky siren's song. No, I thought instead that I might have a good talk to everyone else about expansion.

Talk about opening a can of annoying, circular argument-inducing worms!

I’m a little bit burnt out by it all, and gladly would be happy to not hear or think about 'expansion' again (although it is my hope to keep the company of a lady again one day, so that might have to change). At its most intense, I felt like running away from it all.

But I cast my mind back to when I used to meet with Dr. Schnitzerhund and I decided it’d be best for me to get a little closure before moving onto more interesting and rewarding things for me.

So I wrote a creative piece of writing about expansion in the hope it can allow me the closure I so desperately seek...

Exciting
eXciting again!
Pennsylvania
Ant Bear loves it sick
Nice to hear about!
So many players looking for premium spots - bursting at the seams
It can only help us to grow even more
Open-minded stances only please
Not going to hurt one bit!

Now I can move on and focus on other things, like finally finishing that chicken coop I’ve been building.

What I’m thankful for:

Another amazing round of Qooty almost has me feeling myself again (figuratively and literally).

My beloved SUNS managed to win big against some shittruck team called Hawthorn.

But more importantly, my Demons really made a mess of the team that has caused me to be in this unhinged mental state in the first place. I still can't say their name out loud (except in my nightmares), but now at least I can laugh at them for a little bit.

I'm also thankful that so many people came together to watch me unveil the secretive cult of expansion - it was a wild ride indeed.

Also, I bought Tarks some new pets this week - 6 Plymouth Rock Chickens. The look on his little face was so enriching, it was an instant payoff!

What made me sad:

I was having such a great week, until I entered the match thread with the team of evil bastards and I saw this...



This drove me into a spiral of despair and PTSD so deep, that only an online shopping frenzy could bring me back to some state of normality. This has formed my learning of the week, which I'm very pleased about - I managed to take a deep negative and turn it into something positive.

Like polishing a turd, I guess.

Learning of the week:

So as I say, I used my grief in a positive way, and directed it towards a bit of online retail therapy.

I went to my favourite source of everyday items, Wish. Here's what I found!

- These will be super-useful for the inevitable post-Waffle Stomp clean!

- I have been looking for a new pair of socks for what seems like forever.

- There are times where it's too hot to be fully clothed, but inappropriate to be naked. Problem solved.

- I wasn't really looking for new pants at all, but Nicolas Cage's face is pretty hard to resist.

- This will be great for stashing cheese and crackers on Qooty game days. I bought the 'Wolfgang' fwiw.

- One minute I'm looking for meat socks, and the next I'm buying 12 chicken helmets and then some actual chickens to put them onto. It was a real trip.

I purchased one of everything, but got 12 chicken helmets just in case! Can't wait til it all arrives in June 2021.

Until next week,

- Tang

 

[serial_thrilla]

Hey look - I'm in manangatang's diary! Does that make me famous? This is going straight into my SFA CV.

Please send all requests for signatures via PM as to not clutter up mang's thread.

 

[VainGlorious]

Is it my imagination or are you getting weirder?

You say this to me a LOT.

 

[manangatang]

You say this to me a LOT.

Let’s take it as a compliment

 

[I Dont Care]

View attachment 832246​

Dear Diary,

After taking some advice, I thought I'd try a new font this week - what do you think?

I missed my visit with Dr. Schnitzerhund this week, because apparently he decided to go on a Sicilian Pork Sausage-making workshop in Kyneton. I guess I didn't really need his help this week anyway, because I'm feeling pretty good.

I tried to make sure I kept doing the exercises he told me to do though, including drawing my thoughts, feelings and experiences. My Mum always told me that I had a knack for art and I have to say I'm pretty proud of the drawings I'm doing.

This week I drew a picture of a recent experience I had. Simone (remember, she's my friend who is also a wheel of Gruyere) accompanied me on a picnic and so I thought I'd draw that…

View attachment 832245​

This might sound a bit cheesy, but sometimes I think everyone needs a wheel of Gruyere to lean on. They make great listeners!

What I’m thankful for:

I saw an old friend who I haven't seen in AGES re-appear this week. Wooshette makes a lot of people very happy and has such a way with words!

View attachment 832248​

It certainly cheered me up to see her back!

I was also really happy and excited to hear that my good friend Proper Gander won a North Canberra poster design prize when she was 14! I’d love to see the poster she created - maybe I should ask her to share it?

I guess I didn't totally hate my match thread this week either. I certainly got a laugh out of their team-sheet errors - really zany stuff!

What made me sad:

I’ve noticed that one of the other posters around here appears to be struggling with some demons, and this always makes me sorrowful.

I won’t name them (because, let’s face it, I’m scared for my safety), but let’s just label them MPPW or something. The signs of madness are clear to me – accusing non-simmers of rigging games, necro-bumping old threads, crazy team sheet antics, love of vegan pizza. It's a cry for help.

I’ve decided that I’ll help this person out, so I called Dr. Schnitzerhund and asked him to set aside some time for a consultation. Fingers crossed she can be helped like I have been!

I was also really sad to see that the leaders of the team we played against in the Sweet F.A. this week seemed to have forgotten that some of its really important players had some really big milestones. I cried for a few hours thinking about how poor, sweet Dingster must have felt to know that his own team doesn't care about him or his shitty milestones.

Learning of the week:

Great news, Diary! In our match thread against the Wonders, I learnt a new form of ‘banter’ which I’m thinking of adopting. I’m not 100% good at it yet, but I think it works something like this:

1. Enter the match thread having not really read what has already been written. Try to go in with the intention of raising some dust!
2. Write something like this (it’s important not to reply to any particular post): ‘Oh hey [opposition team] and/or [opposition player] sucks and/or is rattled and/or is losing their touch. It’s sad to see lol’. Note: I’m thinking of adding the lol for some extra flourish.
3. Don’t reply to anything that anyone else writes in response, but try another variation of the above a few hours later.
4. Declare that you’re winning at banter in some way (maybe say ‘good to see I’ve triggered you’ or reinforce that ‘it’s sad to see [insert opponent] struggling like this’ or refer to them being 'a shadow of the poster they were').
5. Repeat all week

This new and engaging style is sure to bring about the level of repartee I’ve been so desperately seeking.

Until next week!

- Tang

You carry Simone's head around with you? I take it she didn't put the lotion on

 

[manangatang]

You carry Simone's head around with you? I take it she didn't put the lotion on

She’s just too tasty.

 

[I Dont Care]

She’s just too tasty.

I'm guessing the old liver with fava beans recipe got used

 

[VainGlorious]

I'm guessing the old liver with fava beans recipe got used

And a nice Chianti

 

[Proper Gander]

View attachment 871659​

Dear Diary,

What a busy week it’s been!

It all started when I got a message from someone about joining their new SFA team! I suppose it came out of the blue a bit, given I’m already captain of and committee member for an existing team, as well as being coach of my beloved Gold Coast SUNS.

It was very clandestine and tempting, and I damn near signed up straight away. But no; I thought I’d not succumb to the allure of the sweet millky siren's song. No, I thought instead that I might have a good talk to everyone else about expansion.

Talk about opening a can of annoying, circular argument-inducing worms!

I’m a little bit burnt out by it all, and gladly would be happy to not hear or think about 'expansion' again (although it is my hope to keep the company of a lady again one day, so that might have to change). At its most intense, I felt like running away from it all.

But I cast my mind back to when I used to meet with Dr. Schnitzerhund and I decided it’d be best for me to get a little closure before moving onto more interesting and rewarding things for me.

So I wrote a creative piece of writing about expansion in the hope it can allow me the closure I so desperately seek...

Exciting
eXciting again!
Pennsylvania
Ant Bear loves it sick
Nice to hear about!
So many players looking for premium spots - bursting at the seams
It can only help us to grow even more
Open-minded stances only please
Not going to hurt one bit!

Now I can move on and focus on other things, like finally finishing that chicken coop I’ve been building.

What I’m thankful for:

Another amazing round of Qooty almost has me feeling myself again (figuratively and literally).

My beloved SUNS managed to win big against some shittruck team called Hawthorn.

But more importantly, my Demons really made a mess of the team that has caused me to be in this unhinged mental state in the first place. I still can't say their name out loud (except in my nightmares), but now at least I can laugh at them for a little bit.

I'm also thankful that so many people came together to watch me unveil the secretive cult of expansion - it was a wild ride indeed.

Also, I bought Tarks some new pets this week - 6 Plymouth Rock Chickens. The look on his little face was so enriching, it was an instant payoff!

What made me sad:

I was having such a great week, until I entered the match thread with the team of evil bastards and I saw this...

View attachment 871665

This drove me into a spiral of despair and PTSD so deep, that only an online shopping frenzy could bring me back to some state of normality. This has formed my learning of the week, which I'm very pleased about - I managed to take a deep negative and turn it into something positive.

Like polishing a turd, I guess.

Learning of the week:

So as I say, I used my grief in a positive way, and directed it towards a bit of online retail therapy.

I went to my favourite source of everyday items, Wish. Here's what I found!

View attachment 871669 - These will be super-useful for the inevitable post-Waffle Stomp clean!

View attachment 871671 - I have been looking for a new pair of socks for what seems like forever.

View attachment 871672 - There are times where it's too hot to be fully clothed, but inappropriate to be naked. Problem solved.

View attachment 871673 - I wasn't really looking for new pants at all, but Nicolas Cage's face is pretty hard to resist.

View attachment 871674 - This will be great for stashing cheese and crackers on Qooty game days. I bought the 'Wolfgang' fwiw.

View attachment 871676 - One minute I'm looking for meat socks, and the next I'm buying 12 chicken helmets and then some actual chickens to put them onto. It was a real trip.

I purchased one of everything, but got 12 chicken helmets just in case! Can't wait til it all arrives in June 2021.

Until next week,

- Tang

I’m genuinely tempted to seek out and buy 2 of those 5 fine items so thanks for putting me onto these great bargains.

 

[Proper Gander]

I’m genuinely tempted to seek out and buy 2 of those 5 fine items so thanks for putting me onto these great bargains.

Don’t wow me Headless , the meat socks are amazing. I can’t even picture the look of joy on my Mum’s face when she unwraps her gift on Sunday

 

[Tarkyn_24]

I called them all Brock

 

[manangatang]

​

Dear Diary,

How are things?

I must say, I’m pretty excited about the idea of the social lockdown restrictions easing up at Mt. Buller. I think I read they were happy for us to start skiing again, so long as we are one shotgun-range distance away from others. Good times are to be had no doubt!

Otherwise, it's been a confusing week for me if I’m honest. The dopamine rush I got from my Wish online shopping frenzy was fairly short-lived, and I crashed hard in a mess of Antiques Roadshow and Burger Rings.

It’s clear that I needed another project to while away these times of ennui.

Then it came to me. For most of last week, some people were crapping on about rigging a beez (whatever that means). Some people said that you couldn’t rig a beez. Other people said you probably could rig a beez. Someone even said that you couldn’t but you might be able to somehow but not really.

My inspiration came from working out if I could, in fact, rig a beez. I got confused, got drunk and passed out, and when I woke up the idea struck me!

It turns out that with a dab of elbow grease, a splash of strong planning and a splurt of commitment, you can indeed rig a bees house, and that's bloody well good enough.

Here’s the results of my rigging…



Anyway, it’s all looking up from here I guess. Playing the WONDERS is already a spamathon (most of them are leaving at the end of the season, so are pretending to be interested in that shoddy club for one last time against us).

What made me happy:

My darling Gold Coast SUNS have managed to leap into the TOP TWO of the e-AFL ladder!

The wild popularity of that league has meant that I can no longer walk down the streets of Mt. Buller without being recognised/praised/ asked for an autograph. People ask me – how do you do it - how do you just keep those SUNS firing?

I just smile, tap one side of my nose and wink. By that stage it's really awkward and I find I'm alone by the time I've stopped winking.

I’ve also been happy to finally display the work I have put into writing some stories about the land of Sweet and its inhabitants. When I was a young person, CYOA books were right up there with Asterix and Tintin as ‘good avenues to pass off as showing an interest in literature when mainly it’s about entertainment value and pictures’.

In other positive news, I’ve heard from Dr. Schnitzerhund again! I must admit that I thought him lost to the judicial system, but he somehow managed to talk his way out of prison. Sadly, things in prison have changed him and I think he’s had to give up proctology. I assume business may have become mixed up with pleasure on the inside. Oh well, hopefully it just means more opportunities for him to focus on his sausage-making and psychological consultations.

What made me sad:

The Demons didn’t only lose, but we got a good old-fashioned touch-up by the Hawks. It made me feel even sadder to realise that Tarks (poor Tarks, whose pets have constantly been consumed by all and sundry – mainly me) missed an opportunity to catch up with Mooch in the race for the FRED. But never fear – I’ve rallied the troops to help feed the ball to him this weekend.

All he has to do is kick straight!

I’m a little disheartened to see that the entire expansion debate has not allowed for enough of a focus on the Southside Shitgibbons. Now THIS is a team I could set my watch to – its guernsey, identity and moniker are quality and I am almost tempted to join them myself. I do hope they put their bid in for committee consideration!

Learning of the week:

Like any well-adjusted and sane person (with great social skills) I was cruising the match threads on the Sweet F.A. board on Saturday night and came across one particular thread that was jumping with activity.

It was the day before Mother’s Day, so I must admit to being unsurprised by the conversation being focused on mothers. However, it became clear to me that this was a bit of a ‘fighty’ kind of conversation.

From this, I learned that joking about mothers on the day before Mother’s Day can result in threats of physical violence/an increased happiness to meet.

Good to know.

Until next time,

- Tang

 

[VainGlorious]

I’m a fast reader.

 

[manangatang]

I’m a fast reader.

I was genuinely surprised when I saw the alert. Impressive.

 

[VainGlorious]

I was genuinely surprised when I saw the alert. Impressive.

I’m not just a pretty face.

I have a fully functioning body as well.

That’s why I get sad for Headless sometimes, he doesn’t get to see all the joy we bring, because he can’t read, because he doesn’t have a head.

 

[Barrybran]

I’m not just a pretty face.

I have a fully functioning body as well.

That’s why I get sad for Headless sometimes, he doesn’t get to see all the joy we bring, because he can’t read, because he doesn’t have a head.

⠠⠹⠁⠞⠠⠴⠎⠀⠱⠽⠀⠠⠊⠀⠛⠑⠞⠀⠎⠁⠙⠀⠿⠀⠠⠓⠂⠙⠨⠎⠀⠐⠎⠐⠞⠎⠂⠀⠓⠑⠀⠙⠕⠑⠎⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠛⠑⠞⠀⠞⠕⠀⠎⠑⠑⠀⠁⠇⠇⠀⠮⠀⠚⠕⠽⠀⠺⠑⠀⠃⠗⠬⠂⠀⠆⠉⠀⠓⠑⠀⠉⠁⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠗⠑⠁⠙⠂⠀⠆⠉⠀⠓⠑⠀⠙⠕⠑⠎⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠓⠀⠁⠀⠓⠑⠁⠙⠲

Headless

 

[VainGlorious]

⠠⠹⠁⠞⠠⠴⠎⠀⠱⠽⠀⠠⠊⠀⠛⠑⠞⠀⠎⠁⠙⠀⠿⠀⠠⠓⠂⠙⠨⠎⠀⠐⠎⠐⠞⠎⠂⠀⠓⠑⠀⠙⠕⠑⠎⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠛⠑⠞⠀⠞⠕⠀⠎⠑⠑⠀⠁⠇⠇⠀⠮⠀⠚⠕⠽⠀⠺⠑⠀⠃⠗⠬⠂⠀⠆⠉⠀⠓⠑⠀⠉⠁⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠗⠑⠁⠙⠂⠀⠆⠉⠀⠓⠑⠀⠙⠕⠑⠎⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠓⠀⠁⠀⠓⠑⠁⠙⠲

Headless

Is that a new free form expressionistic style?
WaynesWorld19
Barry is out of material and is stealing your schtick!

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Is that a new free form expressionistic style?
WaynesWorld19
Barry is out of material and is stealing your schtick!

Barrybran 's attempt at humor .....give him a like, he needs the acknowledgement ....his teammates give him none

 

[VainGlorious]

Barrybran 's attempt at humor .....give him a like, he needs the acknowledgement ....his teammates give him none

I like Barry, so I was left with no choice but to like his attempt at the free-form-expr, aww **** it. Your style. Sheesh. You really commit man, kudos.

 

[Test Tickle]

⠠⠹⠁⠞⠠⠴⠎⠀⠱⠽⠀⠠⠊⠀⠛⠑⠞⠀⠎⠁⠙⠀⠿⠀⠠⠓⠂⠙⠨⠎⠀⠐⠎⠐⠞⠎⠂⠀⠓⠑⠀⠙⠕⠑⠎⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠛⠑⠞⠀⠞⠕⠀⠎⠑⠑⠀⠁⠇⠇⠀⠮⠀⠚⠕⠽⠀⠺⠑⠀⠃⠗⠬⠂⠀⠆⠉⠀⠓⠑⠀⠉⠁⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠗⠑⠁⠙⠂⠀⠆⠉⠀⠓⠑⠀⠙⠕⠑⠎⠝⠠⠴⠞⠀⠓⠀⠁⠀⠓⠑⠁⠙⠲

Headless

Is that your team sheet this week Baz?

 

[Proper Gander]

Mothers Day is pretty weird now that I think about it

 

[manangatang]

​

Dear Diary,

It was another strange and confusing week up at Mt. Buller, with some really high highs and some pretty low lows.

In between these highs and lows, there was this whole patch of weirdness that sort of dominated everything. People unsuccessfully trying to break awful posting records, International Round being assassinated in the cold light of day. There was even a sighting of an Alfa Romeo infestation…



To manage these strange and uncertain times, I finally managed to pencil in some time with Dr. Schnitzerhund, who looks a lot thinner and paler since I last saw him. Apparently, prison isn’t a great place to stay healthy and – in his own words – ‘to stay unimpeded by other people’s appendages’ (whatever that means).

Anyway, he decided to play a game of word association to see what was sitting just beneath my conscious mind…

He first said “Vampires”, to which I replied “Okay!”

He then said “Furies”, and I came straight out with “SHIT DUMPSTER CAMPAIGNERS”

The next thing he said was “Giant”, to which I shouted “GAPES!”

He nodded, then said “Tarks”, to which I replied “Tarks!”

Smiling, he wrote that down and then said “Wonders”. I immediately said “LOL” and we both laughed for a little while.

His face suddenly became more serious as he looked at me and said the final word – “Dragons”.

I think I must have blacked out at this point and went deep into a post-traumatic haze of emotional hell. I woke up with a pencil in my hand and a drawing I had somehow completed. The Zoom chat had been terminated, so I’ll have to email the picture to Dr. Schnitzerhund to see what he thinks…



What made me happy:

My beautiful Dees won again, and are currently in the top 4 (for now). Winning is really great, but winning against the Wonders is extra great! It was a fun and active week of banter, and I was particularly impressed with @SSwans2011‘s use of MS Paint to make some original artwork for us. If that guy ever starts using Photoshop, we have one to keep an eye on!

In other news, the powers that be finally realised that the eAFL was only ever going to be a one horse race and have brought in a mercy rule to bring forward the finals. My SUNS will play in their first ever final, and with me at the helm I’m confident of defeating whoever our opponent is by eleventyhundred goals. At least.

I also witnessed a dear friend’s creative process this week – watching her mind at work was truly inspiring. Proper Gander has crafted a range of ‘SFA Minis’. They’re exquisitely detailed and there’s even one for Headless – tehe! However, there was a dark edge to this - one unnamed captain didn't know if his club's socks were stripy or solid o). Can you imagine?

I was also excited to see the feverish response to the announcement of tony to one of the new expansion teams. Now, 21 posts over 16 calendar years may not seem like a lot. It might even be so little as to bring into question the signing's potential longevity.

However, I feel like tony has just been playing the long game – keeping his legs fresh until such a time as an exciting new expansion team approached him. Smart move tones. Smart move.

What made me sad:

I keep getting told that the league is bursting at the seams with players seeking out premium on-ground positions, and of course I believed it. If it’s written in the Sweet F.A. committee room it must be right.

Apparently not.

Our opponents this week had limited contribution from several of their premium position players, which shook me to my core. To make matters worse, one of their senior team members posted THIS, which was a real mood-killer it has to be said...




I guess the silver lining is that the players who are queuing up to steal a premium position (including the poster above) should be able to just march right in to the Wonders and take one!

Learning of the week:

To post against the Wonders is to learn. Earlier on in the season I learnt a brand new style of banter from one of their rookies, and this time I learnt the importance of reacts.

At some point in the match thread, it became clear to me that I had upset a couple of opponents because I chose not to 'like' react a post from one of my opponents. Now, the post in question was not terrible - I'd even say it was pretty OK - but on this occasion I made a barely conscious decision to not react it. This turned out to be an error.

Generally, I don't usually just react things I don't actually like - I figure that the 'like' react means that you have read and positively reacted to the post in question and/or wish to show your support for the content.

It turns out that I was actually wrong in this logic, and that I should probably think about also reacting things that people pre-emptively assume should be liked by me. It's a puzzler, but I intend on sitting down with a glass of sparkling water and ponder it for a while.

I went and liked it anyway, and it seemed to help things to blow over.

It's always nice to give the grey matter something to roll around.

Until next time,

- Tang