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Diablo,
I have been remiss in congratulating you on your new position at AW. It has to be an awesome time for you both moving there, and on top of that, working for Abby!!!! It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy and I hope you have a lot of fun along the way!!
For those wondering where Diablo is.... They made him work extra hard today to make up for the time he had spent talking to Val. so hes exhausted and will be back after some R&R
Its after hours now Diablo you can be one of us, however be careful what you say, we wouldn't wanna see you in Coventry
Heh, I'd think I'd be at the dole queue on a Monday morning before I ever reach Coventry!
Incidentally, in South Melbourne, there's a street called Coventry St... I had to plot a route that included it (to dodge around the tollway), and to remind myself of the turn, I thought of you!
D, do you get supplied with free AW t-shirts & stuff to wear at the office? Gotta look the part after all.
You know what? I've given this some serious thought... the name AbbyWinters.com, on its own, doesn't actually imply anything to do with erotica, so the t-shirt would only raise eyebrows with people who either have a laptop/web-enabled phone on them, or are already a subscriber of AW.com (in which they'd probably give a compliment, if anything).
So, if I were to wear an AW.com t-shirt, it'd probably wouldn't really count negatively against me in any way (although you Melbourne-based members might be able to identify me slightly more reliably!). And my family/old friends (who I've had to leave in the dark about working for AWHQ) are all back in Perth, so I need not worry about having to explain the t-shirt to them!
I'd even go as far as saying it's a community service to wear one... after all, you're encouraging people to sign up for an adult site that actually treats women with the respect they deserve, as opposed to the sleaze-filled rubbish that they're unknowlingly inclined to.
Heh, I'd think I'd be at the dole queue on a Monday morning before I ever reach Coventry!
Incidentally, in South Melbourne, there's a street called Coventry St... I had to plot a route that included it (to dodge around the tollway), and to remind myself of the turn, I thought of you!
Get an E Tag, get abby to get it for you she can write it off on expences. Much easier on the toll ways, I take it you were off to a channel 7 game show that is taped in Coventry street
Nah, I was just going nuts and driving around the Melbourne metro area, so I could learn the layout of the roads better. (used up half a tank of fuel yesterday, but it was still all good fun!)
Which game show is taped there? I didn't notice, actually...
Melbournes easy to get around its all on a grid, but you will be having fun, esp the tram lines when it rains lol.
I think Deal or no Deal is taped out there.
Drive past there @ 2pm on certain days a week down the st kilda rd end and when you see a crowd of desperate housewifes you know they are waiting to go in for the show lol
You know what? I've given this some serious thought... the name AbbyWinters.com, on its own, doesn't actually imply anything to do with erotica, so the t-shirt would only raise eyebrows with people who either have a laptop/web-enabled phone on them, or are already a subscriber of AW.com (in which they'd probably give a compliment, if anything).
'Xactly. I'd encourage my employees to wear branded t-shirts & other stuff even when not at the office.
Hey, it's free advertising. Plus might be another way to recruit new models round Melbourne.
I mean, some may have heard of aw.com, and must be glad to be able to informally ask someone questions about it.
Others will go "huh?" and then later go & find out what "that stuff on the guy/girl's t-shirt" was all about.
Ya can't really loose, bar the price of a few t-shirts.
I'd even go as far as saying it's a community service to wear one... after all, you're encouraging people to sign up for an adult site that actually treats women with the respect they deserve, as opposed to the sleaze-filled rubbish that they're unknowlingly inclined to.
Did someone mention AW T-shirts? I tell ya, gang, they're magical! You wear one o' those and the world is a better place. A much better place - and not just for you wearing it, but for everyone you encounter while your wearing it. I dunno how it works but it does, believe me. Give it a try - you won't be sorry!
G'day, my fellow Diablonians! (and general AbbyWinterians)....
Hey guys, just letting you know I'm still in touch with the boards, for those of you that have wondered why I've gone silent. I'm in a state of transition right now, and have limited connectivity outside of work. The ADSL modem at my temporary place of residence has managed to fry itself... probably found those photos on these boards a little too intense to handle!
Had a bit of a scare last Friday; my mother had been trying to look up Abby's company (she's the inquisitive type, and insists on knowing what I do). She appeared to be really upset at the thought of me possibly working for the adult industry at first, and sent me a rather terse and accusational e-mail; I then found myself having to defend my decision to work here. My mother seems to believe that there's no such thing as "tasteful erotica", and that "porn exploits everyone", but I'd think you guys all know how to prove those points wrong...
Turns out she didn't actually find this site, she just found that one of the staff members here is affiliated with an Australian policital lobby association that represents the adult industry. After that exchange, she realised it wasn't worth putting me in more trauma than needed (as I said I was going to cease all contact with her if she couldn't accept what I was telling her), and seems to be getting over it. I hate having to lie about what we do to certain people...
In other news, I've finally found a place to rent in Melbourne... took me a while, as there were heaps of competition among tenants in Melbourne's inner suburbs, and I was getting knocked back heaps, due to having no rental history and starting a new job in a new city. I was starting to overstay my temporary accommodation arrangement, where the mounting pressure from the owners, to move out, and my frustration in not getting approved, was making me panic.
I ended up finally getting approved for a 3 bedroom house, that's a bit further out from where I was hoping to settle, although it's still cut my commute distance in half. However, I've suddenly been feeling ambivalent about it lately, for some strange reason... it's a large financial commitment afrer all, since I had to take out a 12 month lease to get approved. It's an old-style house, with wooden floorboards, and up until this time, I've always been used to the modern-style housing that is populous in Perth (with clean smooth walls and carpets everywhere). I'm moving in soon (electricity gets connected tomorrow). but I'm hoping I can get over these initial reservations. Taking on a housemate looks like it'll be worthwhile financially, as I could save a nice few grand in rent, but it'll be another new challenge I'll be facing, as it's something I've never done before.
So guys... what's your advice on my situation? Got any other renting or share-housing stories/experiences you'd like to share? Any lucky choices, or regrets that you might have? Post them here if you wish
My first reaction: A three bedroom rental ...? I had no idea being on Team Abby paid so well. Or is is possible the house doesn't have any other rooms ...
My advice is go with your gut. I can't live with roommates anymore ... live-in lover and wife, for sure but I learned in Japan I can handle sharing space with strangers and people I'm not intimate with but I don't like it at all. So it's all up to one's own tolerance level. I hope by now you know yours.
Are you working to save or hoping to settle down? Don't know yet? That's OK. If your goals include building a financial nest-egg (which is always a good idea) then finding someone to take a room would be a great idea. Depending on the lay-out of the place you will both have a place to go without going out to get away from each other. And if your name is on the lease, you hold the cards in case things don't work out. And there is always the likelihood that a roommate will have knowledge of Melbourne you don't and prove to be a good tour guide and mate. (nothing against the rest of Team Abby but I don't think you should make work friends your only friends ... find friends outside of work, too) I had a similar experience my third year of college, where I lived in Boston and rented a room in a 5 bedroom flat with four other people. We all had issues with each other but we got along well enough to enjoy nights out on the town. I'm not that good at exploring a new place on my own. The fellow teachers I met in Japan three years ago also were good at taking me out and helping me explore (some more than others ... )
Anyway, you've already done the hard part: getting the job and moving cross-country. This decision may seem major but it's just another step on the big adventure Hang in there, mate and Good Luck!
I've finally broken that mystical barrier of 1,000 posts! In fact, this is the most number of posts I've ever accumulated on any forum. Unfortunately I won't be joining some of you in the increasingly over-crowded dwelling that is the AW forum members' Permanent Resident Lodge; looks like someone else will have to take on TowelBoy's former bedroom (featuring dozens of towel racks drilled into the wall without the landlord's consent)...
How's everyone's christmas going? Abby's given me two weeks off (nice of her, eh?). Sadly my current financial situation precludes me being able to fly back to Perth (where my immediate family live), or Auckland, NZ (where my mother's side of the family lives), and my parents can't help out either... so I'm having to find ways to keep myself entertained in Melbourne
Not the end of the world yet, though. I've treated myself to a neat new mountain bike (with suspension, disc brakes and paddle-shift gears, yay); yesterday I took it for a good 50km ride, after not having done any decent exercise for the last 6 months... while it was fun, my legs are still slowly recovering Melbourne's got stacks of cool cycle routes that run alongside the various freeways and creeks. Hopefully, with more persistence, I'll be able to get as fit as Valerie
Still yet to figure out what I'll be doing for New Years' Eve, though... I'm slowly building up my confidence at meeting new social groups (it's not easy for me, given my background/tendencies, I'm gradually recovering from the social disconnection effects of having moved cities recently). I'm hoping I'll have something worked out by then...
I'm starting to come to the realisation that the house I'm renting is not really suited to my needs... I've decided I don't really want to take on a housemate anymore, and this leaves me with a house with 1 empty bedroom and a back room going largely unused. Plus, as it keeps accumulating dust and grit, I always find myself having to put more effort than I want to spend into cleaning it, and it's starting to make me feel drained as I get less and less return-of-investment from living in it. It's also still under-furnished (as I'm trying to clear off my debts that I've racked up over the last few years), and the emptyness sometimes drives me nuts.
So, I'm now faced with the challenge of determining what sort of accommodation I really want... Apartment? Smaller house/unit? Inner city? Bit further out elsewhere (but with freeway commute)? The list of questions I need to ask myself goes on, and there's also the problem of breaking my lease (which I worry about, as it could get expensive if I can't get a replacement tenant, but I keep re-assuring myself it shouldn't be too bad). Perhaps some of you guys might like to tell me what sort of place you live in (or have lived in), and why you thought it was right for you?
Anyways, thanks to all and every one of you that has taken the time to read and respond to my posts on these boards. It may seem insignificant at times, but to me, every reply I get helps me validate and learn new things about this world we live in, and participating in this community is an experience I wouldn't trade for anything else. Looking forward to the next 1,000 posts, it only gets better from here!
you see it wasn't that hard and it's only a beginning, and as you said in my thread not too long ago, you work so hard which makes it harder to spend time on the board chatting with everyone else. But whenever you do, it's worth it, so don't you stop.
You're being off for two weeks is quite a gift from your boss, I wish I could have had that when I was working, but hey, who can refuse a holiday. I'm pretty sure you'll find things to do, especially you're being in the summer.
I hope you had a great XMas, and I wish you the best for the upcoming year, keep us posted and keep up the good work you're doing at AW.
Hey Diablo, congrats on your 1,000th post--I enjoy your artwork announcing it. Better screen-cap your message, 'cause once you make another post that magic number is gone forever!
I wish you all success in finding new digs--I have no advice, except that I am a big believer in going by your intuition--do you get a good feeling or not when you walk into a potentially new place? At least you have a roof over your head and the means to afford it, which is more than some do. I went with my current place 11 years ago because it was in a nice neighborhood and I liked the look of the house it was in. I had no idea, tho, that it would get so friggin' cold in the winter!
It has been a cloudy and rainy Christmas here in Artloverland--luckily a warm family get-together made up for it.
Good luck, Diablo, and enjoy your time off... Artie
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