h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The fact that you describe yourself as serious to the point of being almost humourless leads me to believe that you do, indeed, have a sense of fun. I'm in Australia (yes I'm aware that Kiwi's love us about as much as we love the yanks, but there isn't much I can do about it), so at least we're in the same sort of time zone (4 hours diff) unlike almost everyone else on h2g2. Hope to run into you again.

Hello, biomass! Are you some sort of Greenie or something?
No, I am not 100% humourless, it's just very well hidden... on account of it's got me into a bit of bother here and there over the years.
Nice to hear from you!

No, I'm not a greenie, I'm doing an honours tear in Microbiology - hence the name. I actually wanted to use the name "critical mass", which I think is a very cool sounding physics term, but someone had apparently already taken it so I simply switched to a term more in my own field. Sorry it wasn't a more interesting story.

No, that's okay, microbiology is interesting in its own right. What university are you at?

I'm at La Trobe Uni, in Victoria. Have you ever been over here? What part of UnZud are you from, and what do you do with yourself?

Actually, you will think I am kidding, but I *guessed* La Trobe! I have been only to Sudnay, and that was in 1989..
I am in Auckland, and I am an unemployed special needs teacher aide, well, semi-employed - ie., under-employed. Right now, I have a 17 year old with chicken pox. I think it's funny, but he thinks it's less funny as time goes on...

Aukland, eh. I was once (a lifetime ago) engaged to a girl from Te Puke, which from memory is about 45 minutes from you. I'd like to say I hope you get a lot more work, but given the nature of your job, I should probably say I hope your services are never needed again. It is fabulous that their are people like you out there for those unfortunate kids. Keep fighting the good fight, and give those kids a hug for me. Hope your 17 year old has a quick recovery, VZV as we microbiologists call it (Varicella-zoster virus) is a real bugger when your a little older than "normal", and it may increase your chances of "Shingles" later in life (it recurs as the zoster part). So take good care, hope to hear from you again.

Sorry, biomass, I didn't see your reply sooner, it got bumped to the bottom of the list!
Jimmy is still suffering, but on Sunday, he had a very high fever, and I was on the Internet, scaring myself about it. At least I am immune, cos what the websites said about adults and chickenpox...
Te Puke is a nice place, but Auckland is the place I want to live - nowhere smaller!

I hope Jimmy is on the improve, but there's no point worrying yourself about it. Don't expend mental energy on something you can't control, just keep yourself fit and alert so that you can be of maximum assistance to him when he needs you. All the best.

Here we are again, your message pushed down the end to where I didn't see it in time. I am , it's not really neglect...
Jimmy is better now, which is good, although he had one *really* bad 24 hour period, the rest of the time he was going stir-crazy at home from school...

That's good news about Jimmy. I will be on and off the "air" for about 10 days due to computer repairs. Please keep in touch after that.

Would like to.. Hope your repairs go well...