Frozen on a Rooftop as Security Strolled By (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: November 20, 1998
The long flashback ends with a tense wait on a rooftop and a very heavy walk home. Back in the present, Friday fizzles into phone calls, a Centrelink queue and a lonely night.
Poetry Is Basically Air Says Me (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 3, 1998
Tony argues that poetry is a material just like air, shares five haiku, then heads to the gym and finishes with a theory of matter and time.
Feeling Old at Nineteen (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 9, 1999
A restless early morning brings a finished poem about time, worries about his body and a long look back at the past few years.
The Human Switchboard Takes Calls (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 25, 1998
Everyone seems to call Tony with their side of the story, while the one call he wants stays silent and another waxing lesson goes badly.
Tatton Teaches Me World History (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 18, 1998
A taxi sends Lyssa home, a late call stirs up old memories and Tatton and Shawn turn up with a night of history lessons. Wednesday plans arrive just as the entry ends.
Caving In To A Day Trip To The City (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 24, 1998
Lyssa begs Tony to meet her in the City, and he reluctantly caves, rushing his workout and listing everything the pair do not agree on.
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.
Lyssa Buys Me a Chico Roll (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
Tony rides out to Lyssa’s, rents a movie they never watch and gets caught off guard by a tender moment with her cat.
A Dripping Tap And A Stopped Clock (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 18, 1998
A movie night with Lyssa does not go the way he hoped, and the long shower afterwards turns philosophical. Monday morning brings a second try and a few more misunderstandings.
Training Tatton To Remember The Nineties (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
Shawn and Tatton keep Tony company with cards, teasing and television. The next day brings sneezes, summer heat and some close calls.
The Ten Caloric Commandments (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
A strict ten day food plan has a name, a budget and a checklist, and a trip to the shops and a back workout put it into motion.
The Girl I Could Not Talk To (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 24, 1999
After freezing up in front of a girl he danced with at Waves, Tony rewinds to Friday night and the long road to Macarthur Square.
A Hug with Only One Arm (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
Tony’s night at Lyssa’s falls apart when company arrives, ending with two empty hugs and a call that never comes.
Milton’s New Year Romance (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 6, 1999
Gossip about a friend’s new relationship, a search for temping work and a full back and triceps workout fill this Wednesday afternoon.
My Murmuring Disaster Beside a Commodore (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 25, 1999
After a night of near misses on the dance floor, Tony follows two girls to their car and freezes. The ride home brings jokes, regrets and a call nobody answers.
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.
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 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.
The Days of Reckoning (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 4, 1998
Lyssa calls just as I was thinking of her, then turns defensive about last night. I reflect on her friends and wonder about her real intentions.
Lying to Lyssa About Payday – Mad Chaos: April 24, 1999
After a long sleep, Lyssa rings at an odd hour and asks if the diarist has been paid. A white lie ends the call, and a tired look back at April follows.
Run-ins at Macarthur Square (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 8, 1998
Shawn and Keith flick through albums while I wonder why some people avoid me face to face. Gossip about Simon caps off a late night drive.
A Sold Out Night at Penrith Panthers (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 20, 1998
Toni reflects on Lyssa, then Keith’s car roams from house to house in search of a plan for the night.
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.
Ralf Drives Halfway Across The World (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
A Saturday road trip to a Wollongong cabin starts with borrowed shirts and a very quick drive down the highway. A food run with a stubborn driver tests everyone’s patience.
A Crayon Love Letter for Keith’s Car – Mad Chaos: March 31, 1999
Shawn, Tatton and Tony leave a fake love letter on Keith’s car, sneak into a movie, then a wax sealed note and a very quiet Tuesday close out March.
Styrofoam Beads and Misfortune’s Pond – Mad Chaos: April 17, 1999
Back to poetry after a chaotic week, the diarist explains the month’s title, charts the stages of his diary and ends a rainy night teasing Keith.
Three Hours Beside A Silent Phone (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 7, 1998
A promised phone call never arrives, and Tony fills the silence with suspicion. The day behind it is full of phone tag, old teammates and window shopping.
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.
Debuting My New Black Outfit (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 25, 1998
Left waiting for a visit that never came, Tony takes up Keith’s offer and heads out in his new clothes. The old crowd reacts exactly as he feared.
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.
Gridiron Beats Footy Every Time (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 3, 1998
Tony tells the table gridiron is the tougher sport, spots Lyssa with Penelope and ends the night online with a borrowed modem.
Hopping Out Of A Raging Car (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
An argument over nightclub tickets ends with one friend walking away from a reckless driver. Back at the cabin, a camera and a few drinks lift the mood before the night out.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
A friendly dance turns awkward, the night winds down, and the group heads off only to learn a friend turned up just after they left.
Sick Day at Cronulla Beach (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: September 27, 1998
He spends hours on the sand while Jett rides the waves, then catches the train home with a few close calls with ticket inspectors.
Three Sonnets Ready for Christmas (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 16, 1998
A sonnet series for Lyssa comes together, each poem explained and the whole set planned as a gift, while real life offers lunch dates and weekend 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.
Abraham the Spirit Predicts Doom (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 3, 1998
A homemade seance with candles and a cup brings up a spirit named Abraham, some wild predictions and a very short sleep.
The Phone Call Where The Angry Button Got Pushed (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 8, 1998
A dull night out is nothing next to the afternoon phone call with Lyssa. The talk turns nasty and ends with a question Tony has wanted to ask for months.
Prank Calls and a Slipped Name (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 11, 1998
A night of waiting around Queen Street turns into a round of prank calls that unravels when Tony accidentally says the wrong name. The mates then spend hours with old photo albums until dawn.
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 Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 7) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
An evening call with Lyssa moves through old irritations and tender moments, then drifts into the author’s hopes of one day being famous.
Pizza Hut Deliveries And Simon’s Worst Idea (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 8, 1998
Still fuming, Tony drags Shawn out to Pizza Hut for a night riding along on deliveries. Simon’s clumsy attempt at romance ends in mutual embarrassment.
The Blanket Thief In My Bed (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
After a TV evening of mystery videos and perfume gossip, Tony loses a battle over the blanket and ends up raiding the fridge in the small hours.
Who Knows Ace and Nobody Admits It (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 12, 1998
Tony stays up through the early hours trying to work out who is hiding what, and why a certain phrase keeps turning up. A dawn phone call to Imad adds another piece to the puzzle.
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.
A Day Out With Lyssa in Parramatta (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 6, 1998
A phone box scramble, a late bus and a train trip to Parramatta with Lyssa. Her photos stir up old irritations on a rainy day.
Serbia, the Three Hundredth Page and a Day at the Beach (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 27, 1998
After the beach the day drifts through friends’ houses, game tips and a trip to the cinema for a twisty crime film.
Cheering for the Hopman Cup (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 9, 1999
Stuck at home on a Saturday night, Tony finds a small thrill in an Australian tennis win and then dissects his poem about time.
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.
Shrieking Through My First Leg Wax (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 25, 1998
A sleepless, jobless morning ends with a bold experiment, a pot of hot wax and a war cry that probably carried down the street.
A Chain Mended and Faith Renewed (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 21, 1999
Tony kills time in Campbelltown while his chain is repaired, then spends the evening on the phone with Lyssa as their relationship keeps shifting.
Parramatta Shopping and a Call from Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 3, 1998
A day of work clothes shopping in Parramatta ends with an unexpected phone call from Lyssa, bursting with news about her pay rise and her trip.
Burgers and Goodbyes With Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: September 24, 1998
He talks his way into a Campbelltown outing with Lyssa, carrying her bag and chasing a little more time with her. Lunch and honest talk follow.
Serbia, the Three Hundredth Page and a Day at the Beach (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 27, 1998
A puzzling phone call sends two friends driving around Campbelltown, late night theories flying about what Tatton is really up to.
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.
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.
A Night at the Catholic Club (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 24, 1998
Familiar faces turn up around the club before the crew heads off to Simon’s.
L Plates at Three in the Morning (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 19, 1998
A night of cards turns into a wobbly after-midnight drive around Campbelltown with the L plates swapped between cars. The month-end gloom settles in afterwards.
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.
Fate Charm Fuels Prank Calls (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 1, 1998
A new month opens with a fallen chain, a tense phone call with Lyssa and a prank calling spree that reunites Tony with old flames.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
After a huge night out, the diary looks back on two chances he nearly took and a confidence boost that has lifted the whole month.
A Bank Mix-Up and a Trip Not Taken (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 12, 1998
The ticket machine decides the day’s plan, a cheeky stranger offers an unwanted compliment, and a gym session closes the afternoon.
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.
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.
A Night In With Lyssa (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 19, 1998
Past midnight the house goes still, but a sleepwalking moment on the stairs shows just how much Toni cares.
A Bank Mix-Up and a Trip Not Taken (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 12, 1998
A personal best on the bench press leads into a spontaneous cinema night with Keith and Tatton.
Blaming the Biorhythm Cycles (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 27, 1998
A rough month gets blamed on biorhythm charts, until a long awaited phone call changes the mood completely.
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.
The Little T on My Chain (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 26, 1999
A late movie with Ralf, a mate showing off a very expensive car and a pub table of friendly strangers who coax a shy Tony into a friendly game of snooker.
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.
Telling Lyssa About Jewell (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: September 22, 1998
After one emotional night with Lyssa, the diarist sits down and writes out exactly what he wants from his next girlfriend. It is part wish list, part confession of regret.
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.
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.
A Broken Chain and a Dream Girl (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 10, 1999
A link in the golden chain breaks, a dream about two girls plays out, and a temping agency rings with a job offer.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
Toni trains hard on the bench and bike, chats with the regulars, then heads home for dinner.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
The group steps into a nightclub built like a theatre, wanders the venue between sets, and slowly eases into dancing.
Sick Day at Cronulla Beach (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: September 27, 1998
Despite a heavy cold, he follows through on the beach plan with Jett. A late night call with Lyssa and a festival on Queen Street frame the day.
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 Blue Haired Night in the City (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 17, 1998
Shawn turns up with bright blue hair, Lyssa calls twice with very different moods, and the group heads for the city.
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.
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.
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.
A Fragile Truce With Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: September 23, 1998
Back home alone with Mariah Carey on the stereo, the diarist replays the last two days with Lyssa. Regret arrives too late, just as hers once did.
Shut Up and Just Drive (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: April 26, 1999
Ralf bans bopping in the back seat, and the ride home blows up into a shouting match. Nobody speaks when the car finally stops outside Shawn’s house.
Smarter Cockroaches And Heavy Rows (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 12, 1999
Between a long gym session and a floor-bed bedroom, Tony wonders if his bathroom cockroaches have evolved and plans a beach trip with Jett.
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.
Tatton’s Terrible Driving Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 1, 1998
Tatton’s driving gets scarier by the corner, and the car keeps conking out. Later a street dash with Imad ends at Lucas and Simon’s new place.
A Long Night Out with Keith and Tatton (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 15, 1998
A night with no plan turns into an adventure as the car heads from Ingleburn to Campbelltown and beyond.
Knocking On A Door Too Late (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
After the dancing stops, the lads sing to strangers, play chicken with taxis and hunt for food in the early hours. One knock on a cabin door comes too late.
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.
Stage One and a Leaf in the Keyhole (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 26, 1999
Four mates head to a tiny pub nightclub, and the night quickly falls flat. Dancing, a lovely blonde and a stubborn Ralf lead to a leaf in a boot lock and a cold wait.
A Smoke Detector and a Useless Certificate (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 12, 1999
Trying to sleep early goes badly, a chirping noise turns out to be a smoke detector, and Keith delivers a certificate nobody could trust.
A Sunrise I Never Actually Saw (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
After a sleepless night, the lads chase food, a hot dog and a drive that proves some skills never fade. At dawn a quiet walk to the beach turns into a cold morning swim.
A Long Night Of Bad Luck In Ralf’s Car (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 8, 1998
Tony and his mates go from an awkward visit to a standoff with another car, then a nightclub that fizzles out. Even the drive home delivers one more twist.
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.
Liverpool Dance Floors and the Last Day of October (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 31, 1998
With the month nearly over, the author reflects on a night out that started with a long wait for Ralf and a parking struggle in Liverpool.
A Blonde And A Chickened Out Hello (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998
Tony trades glances with a girl in the supermarket and chickens out, then lifts through a clicking chest injury before heading to the City.
Sneaking Into The Matrix With Keith and Shawn (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 20, 1999
Woken at two in the afternoon by a knock at the door, a night of sleep turns into a cinema mission. The ticket collectors are standing guard, and the boys have a plan.
Two Breath Tests on a Friday Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 18, 1998
Shawn is pulled over for a second breath test, Phoenix hangs up on a late call, and the next morning Keith turns up at the door.
Cronulla Beach and a Night at Lonestar (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 21, 1998
A long train ride, a freestyle rap session and an almost empty beach at dusk.
Explaining My Greedy Love Sonnet (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 9, 1999
The newest sonnet gets its full explanation, quatrain by quatrain.
A Night at the Catholic Club (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 24, 1998
An awkward drunk stranger and a chat with Lyssa and friends make the pokies room a bit tense.
Writing a Sonnet Through to Morning – Mad Chaos: April 3, 1999
After a Broncos game and a fixed chain, sleep refuses to come, so a sonnet gets written from dawn to late morning before Ralf rings about a night out.
Two Girls and a Missed Chance (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: September 28, 1998
Back home he rewrites what the computer ate and listens to Jett’s story. Then he recalls following two girls from the platform onto the Campbelltown train.
A Night Lyssa Could Not Stop Talking About (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 11, 1998
Lyssa calls at midnight, buzzing about her night, and the conversation tests his patience. Tomorrow’s gym session might decide a few things.
Liverpool Dance Floors and the Last Day of October (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 31, 1998
The author recovers from a night out, takes a compliment from Lyssa to heart and sets new fitness goals before closing the month.
Kieran Walks in on Me (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
A dawn of pointed questions, a stumbling answer on the phone and a surprise face to face in a house full of candles.
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.
Parramatta Shopping and a Call from Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 3, 1998
A restless afternoon train ride from Campbelltown to Miranda, with glances across the carriage and thoughts about my body, summer and finding a girlfriend.
Hot Days and Fresh Starts (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: September 29, 1998
A scorching walk to Campbelltown, a catchy summer song and a decision about Lyssa open the day. Centrelink and the mall fill the rest.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
Memories, old photos and a month-old confession set the tone for a thoughtful look back.
Finishing the Saga and Planning a Friday Night (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 16, 1998
A recap of Thursday: a visit to Tatton at Mobil, a mystery girl called Marley and a run in with Simon’s wild kids.
Hot Days and Fresh Starts (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: September 29, 1998
He sets out to rebuild his body and confidence, recording a full workout from chest to abs and noting what to improve next.
Just Five More Minutes on the Phone (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 16, 1998
Tony trains through a nagging chest niggle, then spends the evening on the phone with Lyssa, who keeps begging for a few more minutes.
Centrelink, a Poem and Plans (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: September 25, 1998
After hours of thinking about the triangle of Lyssa, Jewell and himself, he writes an old style poem and annotates its symbols. It is his first real attempt to make sense of it all.
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.
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.
Chasing Lyssa Through an Olympic Dream (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 23, 1999
Tired eyes and a broken sleep routine lead into last night’s dream. A train ride, a stranger on Lyssa’s shoulder and a frantic run through the carriages follow.
Boiled Eggs and a Fading Romance (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 11, 1999
A sleepless night ends in a late waking, coloured boiled eggs for breakfast and some blunt thoughts about Lyssa.
Macedonian Strangers in the City Crowd (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 1, 1999
After the early fireworks Tony wanders the packed city, queues for a club and then bumps into three girls who share his heritage and his language.
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.
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.
Tatton’s Terrible Driving Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 1, 1998
Keith turns up in his new dark red car and invites me out for a drive. Letting Tatton behind the wheel turns out to be the night’s worst call.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
A strange game of cat and mouse leads to Phoenix’s house and some talk about Lyssa.
Red Beams and a Harbour Night (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 5, 1998
Lyssa memories sting while Jett talks to Min-Su. Later a red beam light brings out silly night time pranks on a beach full of strangers.
Cockroach Body Count Climbs (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 7, 1999
A grim scoreboard of bathroom cockroaches opens a day of job calls, a Centrelink visit, no friends free and two odd dreams.
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.
Explaining a Sonnet About Sheep and Lions (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: April 5, 1999
Puns on wine and whining, lions among sheep and a Lord who laughs at his attacker, followed by the next sonnet.
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.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
Gossip from Keith reveals a sneaky plan, and a call to Imad is the only plan left for the evening.
Planning a Graph of My Whole Diary (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: April 18, 1999
After a good sleep, a few loose bits of news and a new project begin to take shape. Every month of the diary is about to be turned into data.
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.
A Quiet Visit From Simon Mid-Sonnet (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 7, 1999
A slow Wednesday of puns, bills and a half-finished sonnet, interrupted by a whispered hello at the door.
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.
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.
Tatton’s Terrible Driving Night (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 1, 1998
We sit in Lucas and Simon’s lounge room trying to talk them into a weekend party. The night drifts into car naps and dreams of a Casino night.
A Long Night Out with Keith and Tatton (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 15, 1998
The crew drives out to Thirlmere, finds Simon’s house unlocked and wakes him up for a night nobody planned.
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.
Serbia, the Three Hundredth Page and a Day at the Beach (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 27, 1998
A milestone page, reflections on family roots in a war-torn region, and a plan to get paid lead into a drive to the coast.
First Night at the Catholic Club (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 10, 1998
We give up waiting and drive home, trading ideas for Shawn’s short film and picking character names, before I sit down to write it all up.
Fourteen Days Of Cold War Friends (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 14, 1999
With friends silent for two weeks, Tony makes his own birthday plans and frets when a call does not come on time.
A Haircut and a Yellow Monitor (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 12, 1999
A day of small errands in Campbelltown ends with sit-ups, a chatty hairdresser and a monitor that has had enough.
Shaved and Soaked After Chest Day (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 14, 1998
Lyssa is upset about the modeling agency, and Tony struggles to be supportive. He then works out hard at the gym, laughs at a phone mix-up and finally takes a long bath.
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.
A Fragile Truce With Lyssa (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: September 23, 1998
Lyssa’s cold and her questions about Jewell leave the two of them lying apart in the dark. The next morning they head to Campbelltown still unsure where they stand.
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.
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.
The King Alexandria Poem – Mad Chaos: December 1, 1998
Tony pens a poem about a king who stages a chariot tournament. He credits his biorhythms for how easily it flowed.
Finishing the Saga and Planning a Friday Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 16, 1998
A freshly showered diarist catches a movie, then Lyssa calls to ask if she can come over as just a friend.
Explaining My Sonnet About a Deceiving View (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 21, 1999
The long deferred sonnet annotation finally arrives. A landscape stands in for a person, and every step closer shows another flaw.