The Waiting Game in the Dark (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 29, 1999
A late entry on keeping the diary going before the story returns to Friday night. Lyssa proposes a game of seeing who can last longer without touching.
An Ashtray Hunt at the Motel (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 29, 1999
Room 325 turns out to be non smoking, and Lyssa is not impressed. A KFC run and a trip downstairs for a smoke follow.
Weighing the Air Before a Motel Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 29, 1999
A late night of philosophy about the weight of air gives way to the plan for a motel night with Lyssa. Devon and Kiley nearly spoil it at Leumeah Station.
Back Day and a Wax That Failed (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 26, 1999
A back and triceps session at the gym is followed by a wax that fails. There is a long call with Lyssa, a visit from Simon and cards with the boys.
Waxing Woes Before the Hotel Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 26, 1999
Wednesday night brings a girl walking a dog and news of NATO bombing. It also brings arguments with Lyssa about the hotel night and a bad batch of wax.
Fig Tree Dreams and Desperate Referees (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 25, 1999
After the interview, a detour to a beloved fig tree in Hyde Park turns into a poetic reverie. Then it is a scramble to find two referees.
Keith as the God of Self-Worship (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 25, 1999
Keith’s money habits inspire a short sermon on a god of self-worship. Then comes a nervous interview at a temping agency and some surprising test scores.
A Furtive Trip to Club X (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 25, 1999
A job-hunting week in March 1999 takes a furtive turn with a secret trip to King’s Cross. A chance meeting with Nikita and a sleepless night follow.
Booking a Motel and Taping the Oscars – Mad Chaos: March 23, 1999
A temping agency finally rings, Lyssa asks for a favour and a motel gets booked. A sluggish gym session and a night of taping the Oscars follow, plus one more poem.
A Missed Anniversary and a Sleepless Morning (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 22, 1999
Lying awake with a head full of thoughts, from empty poetry to money worries, a forgotten anniversary and what it means to be stuck at home.
Madden 99 Until Sunday Afternoon (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 22, 1999
News of an old acquaintance lands heavily. Then a missed gym session turns into a marathon of Madden 99 with Shawn and Keith, and some strange late calls from Lyssa.
A Spider Web Welcome for Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 22, 1999
On the anniversary of an old breakup, a taxi pulls up late and Lyssa walks straight through a spider web. A restrained night, a sleepy morning and a walk to the shops follow.
Explaining My Own Fallen King (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 19, 1999
The long promised explanation of the siege sonnet, from the pun in its first line to the mercy offered in the last couplet.
Tracksuit Pants and a Sneaky Shawn (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 19, 1999
Rain cancels one lift and Ralf steps in for a long trip around the shops. Then Lyssa’s family drama, a night of dodging Shawn and a look back at how Old English was learnt.
Rain, Alliteration and a Siege Sonnet (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 19, 1999
A burst of rain breaks a long dry spell. Alliteration, a book of commentary and a very late night produce a sonnet about a besieged King, then a second sonnet about Autumn.
Hiding Inside My Own Fig Tree (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 18, 1999
An explanation of the Lost Years sonnet, line by line, with the fig tree at its centre.
Winding Up Keith at the Card Table (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 18, 1999
Keith and Shawn get wound up over cards, then a towel transforms my back workout.
Pinky Swearing With Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 18, 1999
Surprise doubles at the photo shop, a theory on blondes and two long phone calls with Lyssa.
Sleeping Through a Real Earthquake (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 18, 1999
A sonnet written twice, an earthquake slept through on the waterbed and a long walk for photos and cash.
Answering Lyssa With Oh Well (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 17, 1999
Lyssa asks for a favor, accuses me of not caring and reveals a plan to draw my portrait.
A Pay Rise With an Expiry Date (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 17, 1999
Fifteen extra dollars, no poetry and a gym session that felt weaker than it was.
Free Chicken and a Spider Hunt (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 16, 1999
Keith shows off a mysterious turbo wind, a spider gets the broom and a long card game ends with a secret about Ralf.
Beaten by a Free Fax Machine (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 16, 1999
A fig tree anniversary, a new poem for a girl I have not met and a free fax machine that refuses to be used.
Lyssa Kind of Misses Me (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 14, 1999
After two silent nights Lyssa finally rings, and the conversation shows how far apart they have drifted. News about an old flame sends the diarist back to the fig tree.
A Street Brawl Seen From the Car (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 14, 1999
Cruising Queen Street at closing time, the diarist watches a savage street fight unfold. He gets home to circle jobs in the stolen paper and record his biorhythm cycles.
Cards, Cold Shoulders and Stolen Papers (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 14, 1999
Keith and Simon turn a boring night around, but passing old friends at a petrol station stings. After cards at Subway the three of them nick the Sunday papers.
Yawning Through Sunrise and Dodging a Nightclub (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 14, 1999
A night of failed yawns ends with a sunrise in the backyard. By evening the diarist is working the phones to avoid a nightclub trip with Ralf and Preston.
A Doomed Cockroach and the Gym Crowd (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 13, 1999
After the gym, the diarist reflects on the regulars and on losing his closest friends and his partner. The night ends with a grim cockroach experiment in the toilet bowl.
Tiger Woods Golf and Cards at Subway (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 13, 1999
A blocked poet skips a thousand reps, then recalls a Thursday of golf video games and cards at Subway. Saturday ends with a heavy back and triceps session at the gym.
A Footy Sonnet and a Giant Greenhouse – Mad Chaos: March 12, 1999
After a night of poetry that would not come, a half sonnet, a rewritten line and a football sonnet finally arrive. Then comes an idea for a greenhouse big enough to see from the moon.
Fifteen Cents Worth of Hot Chips (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 11, 1999
Cards with Keith and Shawn, some dodgy talk about a laptop and a letter from the link.
Entombing a Cockroach in the Wall (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 11, 1999
Cockroach warfare at home, a sluggish workout and good news about Lyssa’s car loan.
Explaining My Greedy Love Sonnet (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 9, 1999
The newest sonnet gets its full explanation, quatrain by quatrain.
Arguing With Lyssa Over a Festiva (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 9, 1999
Lyssa wants a loan for a Melbourne Festiva and the diarist cannot keep quiet about it.
Jett Wants the Phone Again (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 9, 1999
A drowsy Monday turns into a gym session, new faces and a very specific laptop wish list.
Planning to Be the Next Shakespeare (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 9, 1999
A diarist plots his rise as a poet, then loses five games of Madden 99 to Shawn.
Walking Home Drunk With One Sock (Part 8) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
A drunken walk from Macquarie Fields, a furious Tamsen at dawn and a new sonnet to close the day.
Keith Breaks a Plastic Chair (Part 7) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
Who likes who, one collapsed chair and a decision to stay behind at Tamsen’s house.
Ralf Grills the New Girl (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
Ralf interrogates a guest, I try to rescue her, and a camera captures the rest of the party.
Glitter in Tatton’s Hair (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
A late-night ramble about work and a laptop, then Saturday night at Tamsen’s party.
Gym Day and Another Cockroach (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
Skipping targets, lost confidence, a heavy chest session and one more cockroach down the toilet.
Winning at Pool and Losing at Dancing (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
I beat Ralf at pool, then suffered through three songs on a half-empty dance floor.
A Dead Nightclub and a Taco (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
Ralf takes the toll road for once, but Meridian is nearly empty and the night only gets slower.
Waiting for Ralf and His Scenic Route (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
Bad news about Penelope, a diary nearly three years old and Ralf taking his sweet time on a Friday night.
A Pram, a Taxi and Ralf’s Chatter – Mad Chaos: March 5, 1999
A pram rolls into traffic, Ralf takes forever to get ready and the laptop shop turns out to be a letdown.
Explaining My Slave to Time Sonnet (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 4, 1999
Quatrain by quatrain, the sonnet about a man enslaved by time is explained at five in the morning. Then comes the heartburn and one more skip.
Five Dollars and a Stubborn Standoff (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 4, 1999
A five dollar loan turns into a long complaint about money, effort and who makes the first move. The night ends with a taxi and a late phone call.
Scaring Birds With a Stereo (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 4, 1999
Birds scraping leaves outside the window meet a CD player at full volume. A haircut, a toast order and a typing test fill the evening with Lyssa.
Ralf’s Secret Move to Queensland (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 4, 1999
A sonnet about being a servant to time opens the night, then Ralf spills the secret behind his New Zealand story. Full stops are demanded.
Jett Borrows the Phone Again (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 3, 1999
A big gym night ends with progress photos in front of the mirror while Jett chats on the phone. Lyssa’s late night phone call brings some odd questions.
A Cockroach Pays for Lyssa’s Taxi (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 3, 1999
Lyssa skips College again, then comes over for chips, a taped Grammys show and a very long goodbye. A cockroach takes the blame for the mood afterwards.
Repeating Phrases All the Way Home (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 3, 1999
A walk to Campbelltown turns into five thoughts repeated out loud so they will not be lost. Old English, a laptop and a stranger pulling leaves follow.
A Stripper Story and Madden Heartbreak (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 2, 1999
Sunday brings Lyssa’s wild night at a work party, a cranky Keith throwing controllers and a Madden loss decided by a single punt.
My Favorite Sonnet and Its Nervous Lover (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 2, 1999
I wrote what I believe is my best sonnet yet, then explained every line of it, plus a pun that works only in Macedonian.
Photos With the Cloak Room Girl (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 2, 1999
Ralf decides he is smitten, I get an earful in the ear, and then a very tall cloak room attendant says yes to a photo before the long way home.
A Yugoslavian Sonnet and a Fake Stamp (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 2, 1999
I printed my first poem in Macedonian with a translation, then picked up the Saturday night story at a club door with a stamp that washed off.
Too Shy at the Orient (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 1, 1999
Ralf sings the blues to a busker, drinks two beers and I stay on water while a girl in a baby blue top slips away unasked.
Photographing Three Girls in the Rain (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 1, 1999
Squeezed into the parade crowd, then wandering Hyde Park and dodging rain, I finally found the nerve to ask three girls for a photo.
Ralf Sleeps Through Mardi Gras Prep (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 1, 1999
Ralf promised an early start for the Mardi Gras, then went to sleep. The long wait, a phone bill dream and a very jovial lift to the station.
Seeping Guts and the Dying of Summer (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 1, 1999
The first day of autumn brings a cockroach that refuses to die, a plan to stretch the last of the government pay and a thousand skips.
Foam, Sirens and a Girl in Red (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 28, 1999
A walk around Wollongong brings a Subway stop, a police scene and a cramped club. Back home, a girl in a red top gives the night its last memorable look.
A Mouse in the Bathtub Before Midnight (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 28, 1999
Ralf and the diarist slip away from the crowd and get dressed up for a night out. A frightened mouse in the bathtub delays them further.
Tears on the Line and a Late Lift (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 28, 1999
The weekend plan slows things down, then Lyssa shares what has weighed on her. Waiting for a late lift tests the diarist’s patience.
Dreams of Trains and Hard Phone Truths (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 28, 1999
A strange dream about trains circling the globe gives way to a long phone conversation. Lyssa admits what she wants, and the diarist admits what he fears.
Road Lines, Shyness and a Movie Plot (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 28, 1999
Sitting down to record a big weekend, the diarist thinks about selective memory, shyness on the dance floor and a film idea about brothers who keep missing each other.
Measuring Up to a Mate’s Biceps (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 26, 1999
Back from the gym, the diarist measures his arms against Ralf’s and records three months of numbers. He ends the night calling himself an everyday scientist.
Triple Positive Days and a Heavy Bench (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 26, 1999
After seeing Lyssa home, the diarist realises he may know a mutual acquaintance from years back. At the gym, everything finally clicks.
A Telly Hunt Tests My Patience (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 26, 1999
Lyssa wants a television for her Nintendo, so the pair trawl through shops from Macarthur Square to Cash Converters. Patience wears thin along the way.
Who Really Loved Who More (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 26, 1999
The diarist weighs his own part in a broken relationship and worries about losing his friends again. A day of shopping brings an unexpected moment.
A Lighter That Almost Catches (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 25, 1999
A prank on the drive home gives way to poetry, body image worries and the end of a long mood study. The result is a lighter that sparks but never lights.
The Greatest Madden Game Ever Lost (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 25, 1999
Shawn and the diarist trade blows in a Madden game that ends in heartbreak. A card game at Subway rounds off a wet night.
Madden, a Celica and One Awkward Visit (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 25, 1999
A lazy Madden session with Keith and Shawn leads to a stiff visit to see a new car. Later, a phone call with Lyssa raises the same old question.
Easy Money the Hard Way (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 24, 1999
A long phone call ends as the crew arrives for another round of Madden. Keith’s dubious get rich quick scheme steals the conversation.
A Television Dies of Old Age (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 24, 1999
A friendly workout with a new gym buddy leads to a phone call with an odd muffled sound. The story ends with a dying television proving Lyssa right.
Tatton Loses a Fight With Newspapers (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 24, 1999
A forgotten moment from Saturday night finally makes the page, and Tatton’s clumsy run with a bundle of newspapers steals the show. Tuesday brings bank queues and big plans.
A Gearbox With Three Working Gears (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
A sleepy evening ends with a joke about aliens, a borrowed Playstation and a film that needs close attention. Monday brings chatter about a car with a blown gearbox.
A Six Minute Radio Show for Two (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
Honest and sometimes awkward thoughts about closeness fill a long afternoon. It ends with a driving game and a six minute recording on the computer.
A Nintendo Surprise After Bus Bickering (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
A late Saturday run through the dirt gives way to a Sunday of waiting at the station and bickering on the bus. The Nintendo surprise finally lands at home.
Grieving Jewell Then Losing at Madden (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
Memories of Jewell sting while an old CD plays. The story then rewinds to a Saturday of Madden, a stuck car and a tournament with a name change.
Aliens Made Us Their Guinea Pigs (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
The diarist longs for solitude, weighs up his odd arrangement with Lyssa and recalls a strange dream. Then he lays out a theory that humans began as an alien experiment.
Super Mario Is Too Cute for Me (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 21, 1999
After a night of rally bragging, the diarist tries Super Mario and finds it too cute. A teasing phone call and a rushed workout fill the rest of the day.
A Freight Train and a Lead Foot (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 21, 1999
A stalled car on a railway crossing is only the start of a wild night. Everyone takes a turn on a dark dirt track, and the driver with the heaviest foot gets his say.
Remembering Old Kisses Between Dirt Tracks (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 21, 1999
Early morning thoughts drift back to old dates and old loves before the story turns to a tense moment with the police and a night of off road mischief.
A Ten Word Language at the Petrol Pumps (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 20, 1999
A stash gets hidden, the crew kills time at the petrol pumps and a wild idea for a ten word language gets tested. The night closes with a bad feeling at Macarthur Square.
A Nintendo Surprise for Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 20, 1999
With a Mario game in mind, Tony works out how to get a Nintendo for Lyssa, and the plan takes him from a shop counter to Jett’s room.
A Language of Only Ten Words (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 19, 1999
A late card game ends with an odd thought experiment about a language built from ten words, followed by a look at his moods and Sunday plans.
Back Day and a Secret Friday Plan (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 19, 1999
Tony chases a catchy song, sits through an empty cinema and works through a gym session, while Lyssa grows suspicious about Friday.
An Eclipse Seen Through a Floppy Disk (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 19, 1999
Tony turns the inside of a floppy disk into an eclipse viewer, then deals with an unwelcome morning phone call and a secret he cannot share.
A Baby Pool Nobody Asked For (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 18, 1999
A narrow card game win at dawn is followed by an odd gift in blue wrapping paper and a gym session with friends. Diary, February 1999.
Three Hustlers Playing Cards at Subway (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 18, 1999
A search for a Playstation ends with a borrowed deck of cards and a late night game that Tony and his mates refuse to let die.
A Black Outfit Worth My Gym Money (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 17, 1999
A shout of seafood and chips, a shop window outfit and a train ride past an old schoolmate shape a day that costs Tony his gym money.
Six Temping Agencies and a Hot Day (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 17, 1999
Armed with a fresh resume and a fast typing score, Tony works his way through the city’s temping agencies on a scorching Monday.
Coffee in a Dark Little House (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 17, 1999
Tony tracks down his Valentine admirer, accepts a coffee he does not want and plots his escape with Ralf, before a long phone chat with Lyssa.
A Valentine Trail of Red Crepe Paper (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 17, 1999
A secret admirer leaves a trail of red crepe paper through the streets, and Tony and Ralf follow it, with doubts growing at every tree.
Ralf Takes the Scenic Route Again (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 17, 1999
Ralf drags every minute into an hour on the way to a warehouse sale, then steers the day toward a packed Cronulla beach. A sticky February diary entry.
Braveheart Sonnet and Hotel Doubts (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 16, 1999
Tony stays up writing a Braveheart sonnet while a tangled night with Lyssa leaves him questioning what a hotel stay would really change.
Lyssa Brings the Ettamogah Photos (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 16, 1999
A pointless road-rules debate gives way to a warm Saturday night, with Lyssa flicking through photos and praising Tony’s poetry. Old friendships get an honest review.
Forty Five Pages on Blue Paper (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 16, 1999
Tony and Ralf spend Saturday afternoon at the shops, then at Shawn’s, where the poems finally leave the screen. The evening plans hinge on one reluctant driver.
Bananas and a Peach From Kuper (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 16, 1999
A Saturday that starts with a suit fitting ends with a gym reunion and a stubborn no to Lyssa. A hint of Rochelle’s Valentine scheme hangs over it all.
Braveheart Made Me a Bard (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 14, 1999
A battle-cry sonnet pours out after a Braveheart night, followed by a short poem about being told he cannot be a bard. Then Shawn tries to correct his Shakespearean spelling.
Three Goodbyes and a Spelling Question (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 14, 1999
A friend’s house is found unlocked and empty, and Tony fills his sleepless afternoon with ridiculous phone calls. Lyssa and Ralf are the lucky audience.
Chance Meetings Always Come in Twos (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 14, 1999
A Valentine’s Day letter and a trail of red crepe paper hint at a strange day to come. Before that, Tony rewinds to a sleepless trip into town and his theory that chance meetings come in pairs.
Awake All Night to Hand In a Form (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 12, 1999
With the sonnet contrasts done, Tony forces himself to stay up so he can hand in a form in town. By evening he is a sleepless wreck with a new mystery call to ponder.
Long Bitter Love Down the Phone (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 12, 1999
The explanation of Tony’s new sonnet continues, from the vines of early romance to the late-night calls that kept it alive far too long. He ends by comparing it with an older poem.
A Love Greater Than Love (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 12, 1999
Tony stays up until dawn finishing a new sonnet for his Lost Years series. He then asks, line by line, whether the feeling behind it was love or something louder.
Hiring a Nintendo for Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 11, 1999
A console rental becomes Tony’s pet plan to cheer Lyssa up. Later he turns to the glimpses of his neighbor and a sonnet inspired by them.
Three Thousand Pages Want to Be Books (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 11, 1999
Tony decides his diary deserves to become real books and starts counting the cost. Between phone calls with Lyssa and Ralf he admits some uncomfortable truths about his younger self.
Bench Press Proves I Am Back (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 10, 1999
Tony learns that gossip travels fast, mistakes Wednesday for Friday, and finds his chest strong again at the gym. Back home he tallies his sonnets and tweaks an old couplet.
A Poem for the Girl Across the Road (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 10, 1999
Tony writes a not quite sonnet for a girl across the road, explains its balance and catches up on gossip about a Valentine picnic.
Valhalla Gets a Sonnet at Dawn (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 10, 1999
Tony wraps up one sonnet, stays up to write a Norse one about Valhalla, and ends the day smitten with a neighbour glimpsed from afar.
My Finest Sonnet Arrives Unannounced (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 10, 1999
After rereading old pages, Tony writes a sonnet about the lost years and spends the rest of the entry explaining its meaning.
The Shower Is My Real Office (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 10, 1999
Tony explains why his best ideas arrive under the shower, grumbles about interruptions and takes stock of his poetry so far.
Rain, Lat Pulldowns and a Seafarer Floor (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 9, 1999
Tony jogs to the gym through heavy rain, logs a big back day, then fights off boredom and visitors to protect his poetry.
A Candle Explains the Dance Floor (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 9, 1999
Inspired by a girl on a crowded dance floor, Tony finally finishes a sonnet about a candle and then walks the reader through every line.
A Phone Call Opens Old Wounds (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 8, 1999
A lazy Sunday ends with a long phone call that unearths family hurts, a budding romance between friends and a Valentine plan nobody wants.
The Glow Stick That Leaked Everywhere (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 8, 1999
Tony leaves the club with glowing fingers, grabs late food with his mates and ends the entry fretting over his own odd little flaws.
A Pencil for a Pretend Smoke (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 8, 1999
While Ralf and Shawn own the dance floor, Tony babysits a nervous mate, meets a friendly stranger and invents a very silly trick with a pencil.
Borrowed Jeans for a Nervous Clubber (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 8, 1999
Tony marks three years of writing, squeezes in a late workout, then helps a nervous mate face his very first nightclub.
The Microphone Was Never On (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 7, 1999
Tony finds his girlfriend talking in her sleep and tries to record it, only to learn the microphone was switched off the whole time.
A Headache Crashes the Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 7, 1999
Tony has more fun than usual at a Parramatta nightclub, then circles back to Friday night and a headache that ruins the ending.
Spare Tickets and Sleepy Plans – Mad Chaos: February 6, 1999
Plans for a big night out keep changing, and Tony ends up with a spare ticket. Earlier, a pair of sleepy phone calls led to a late visitor.
Seventeen Hours on the Nintendo (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 5, 1999
A hired Nintendo 64 turns one evening into a seventeen hour football marathon, complete with a playoff loss that still stings.
The Call That Never Came (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 5, 1999
A sleepless stretch and a missing phone call send Tony into a spiral of theories. One call clears it all up.
Truth Truer Than True (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 4, 1999
Tony ponders the difference between a truthful diary and embellished poetry, then shares three short poems and explains each one.
Arm Wrestling Tatton at Subway (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 4, 1999
A surprising phone call from Lyssa, then a late night trip with the lads, where Tony shows off his new muscle in an arm wrestle.
Knights Peasants and a Slow Gym Day (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 4, 1999
Tony oversleeps three times, drags himself to the gym for a back and triceps session and bumps into a few familiar faces.
Explaining My Own Gloomy Sonnet – Mad Chaos: February 3, 1999
A new sonnet about a forbidden love and a graveside farewell, followed by a long line by line explanation of what every phrase means.
Typing Lessons for a Loud Kid (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 2, 1999
The library has no decent fonts, but it does have a very loud boy who cannot type. Tony helps, in his own way.
A Puffy Face on a Plastic Card (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 2, 1999
A short gym finish gives way to a surprise visit and a day of errands. The new identification card photo was not a keeper.
Sonnets Beat a Nine to Five (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 2, 1999
Tony weighs a life of poetry against a desk job, praises the night and flips through old photo albums before a flat day at the gym.
Missing Half the Super Bowl (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
A night of compromises ends with Lyssa sleeping over and a Monday that starts far too late. The big game was already in its second quarter.
Burnt Pasta and a Taxi Fare (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
Lyssa rings with the gossip from a messy weekend out, then turns up by taxi for a movie night. The pasta did not go to plan.
Rooftops and a Modern Romeo (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
Daring climbs, a cheeky comment to a passer-by and a late bakery stop fill the end of the Wollongong trip. Back home, a new poem arrives in the small hours.
A Very Big Spider Ambush (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
A big spider, a well parked car and a very surprised friend start the night. A tense drive and some hotel and beach mischief in Wollongong follow.
Closing January With Sonnets and Spite (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
The diarist looks back on a month of sonnets and sets new goals. Then the story turns to Saturday night, when two cars of friends head for Wollongong.
Free Chicken and Midnight Gossip (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 30, 1999
Plans for a quiet night fall through when the mates drop by. They end up sharing gossip and leftover chicken before a late call from a faraway voice.
Choking on a Job Interview Call (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 30, 1999
After a night without sleep, a tired walk to Campbelltown and a botched phone interview leave the diarist cranky. Then comes a long think about love and marriage.
A Foolproof Plan With Fatal Flaws (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 30, 1999
The rain feels like a blessing as the diary catches up on Thursday night. A pointless drive to Liverpool and a hopeful money plan both run out of road by dawn.
A Prank Call That Rang Back (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: January 29, 1999
A phone prank sparks a bout of gossip, then the mates head to the mall for a haircut, burgers and people watching. The night ends back at the petrol station.
A Miracle in a Pizza Hut Car Park (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 29, 1999
A friend’s long-overdue repayment arrives in a Pizza Hut car park after a detour through a petrol station. The diarist also hears the story of a black eye.
Smelling Like Chrome at the Mall (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 29, 1999
A vivid school dream ends with a stolen bag, then the diary turns to a wander through Macarthur Square, a black shirt, a scent called Chrome and an old neighbour.
A Chess Dream and a Strange Wish (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 29, 1999
Interrupted phone calls, poems written in a towel and a wish that surprises even the friends in the car. Then comes a dream of a chess tournament at school.
Chasing Easy Money, Then Chest Day (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 29, 1999
A money-making idea fizzles out before it starts, then a long gym session ends with a proud new arm measurement. A phone call suggests the romance is cooling.
Fake Radio Voices and a Borrowed Movie (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: January 28, 1999
A homemade radio show fools strangers on the phone while the movie, the money and the missed calls all go astray. The night ends with a long look in the mirror.
A Swimmer Who Called Me a Man (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 28, 1999
Tony learns a swimmer is older than expected, watches her drive away and ends the day at a family party and a prank radio broadcast with Ralf.
Stung by a Bluebottle and Smitten (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 28, 1999
Tony and Ralf fight for parking at crowded Cronulla, then Tony spends hours in the surf hoping to meet a certain swimmer and finally finds his opener.
Keith Hoards Petrol for Posterity (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 28, 1999
A midnight meet up at Caltex turns up gossip about old faces, Tony invents a physics theory about Keith and the road to Cronulla finally begins.
A Castle Built Around My Heart (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 28, 1999
Tony explains and prints a sonnet about a fortified emotional castle, then swerves to cockroaches, a striking girl at the gym and a camera finally returned.
Fighting Words Before Back Day (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 27, 1999
A frosty call with Lyssa is followed by a sluggish back and triceps session, a chat about a cheap car and a tired, sun tanned end to the night.
Ralf and the Elevator That Hated Him (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 27, 1999
Ralf meets a huge spider in the car park, the lift refuses to cooperate and a hi-fi shop tempts Tony. The long way home takes far longer than it ever should.