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.
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 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.
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.
Fainting in the Bank Queue (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 1, 1999
A necklace repair run through Campbelltown turns into a bank queue drama, an awkward roadside chat with Imad and a full gym routine.
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.
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.
A Neglected Racer and a Hung-Up Call (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: April 26, 1999
Fresh pay brings new plans, from getting online to rebuilding a racing bike. The month ends with a call to Lyssa that goes badly wrong.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Hunting For Diamond At Macarthur Square (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 10, 1998
Keith needs a present for his dad but Tony has other targets: a girl in a work uniform and a run in with a group of old mates.
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.
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.
Olive Oil and Overpriced Burgers (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 10, 1999
A train trip to the City for a birthday dinner ends with expensive burgers, milk at three dollars a cup and a very dramatic Ralf.
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.
Ringing Phoenix After the Fight (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: March 29, 1999
Lyssa wants company at the hairdresser, and the day turns into a street argument. Later a phone call to Phoenix brings gossip about Imad.
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.
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.
Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 5, 1999
Ralf rings twice, the plan changes in five minutes, and a dressed-up night out turns into pokies, railings and feeling out of place.
Counting Pages Like an Encyclopedia – Mad Chaos: November 2, 1998
Tony stays up reading his old diary, owns up to hard lessons and tallies how many pages each year has produced.
Less Confident Friends Make Me Brave (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 26, 1999
Shared glances over a snooker table lead to a late night theory about confidence, big plans for a larger circle of mates and a look back at a tearful call.
Mum Killed in Kosovo, Apparently (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 5, 1999
A beer table in the basement leads to a chatty stranger, a tall tale about a war and a late night at Subway.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Calling Ralf Who Had Already Called Me (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 27, 1999
A groggy phone mix up opens the Australia Day long weekend. Ralf, Keith and Tony cruise toward Miranda while Keith frets over a messy, unpaid mobile phone bill.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Waiting Hours for Itha (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: April 11, 1999
The group waits for a 3:30 a.m. show that never lives up to its billing, then drives home through the early morning.
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.
Lyssa, a Pond and Five Silent Nights (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 1, 1999
A new month brings hope like fresh tire tread, a snapped chain and a stubborn silence with Lyssa, while the Kosovo bombings dominate the news.
Jury Roll And Calorie Maths (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: November 30, 1998
The month ends with a stubborn Monday, a diet breakdown and an odd letter in the mail. Tony closes November with a wish for the summer ahead.
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.
Door Knockers And Train Carriage Daydreams (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 23, 1998
Two polite visitors with books knock at the door, a second long train ride follows, and Tony drifts into dreams of a boys choir song.
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.
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.
Stingy With The Toothpaste (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 26, 1998
Tony lists everything Lyssa will not share, spends the small hours awake with magazines and sonnets, and is politely shown the door by lunchtime.
The Keyboard Gives Up on Me – Mad Chaos: January 8, 1999
A lonely Friday has Tony questioning his friendships, cursing a failing keyboard and recording a chest and arms workout.
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.
Eavesdropping on Keith and Tamsen (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: April 26, 1999
Keith and Shawn turn up unannounced, and an hour-long phone fight with Tamsen follows. A Subway visit and a Commodore race wind up a long Sunday night.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A Mystery Call and Pretending to Be Rupert (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 8, 1999
A call from two girls ends with a fake voice and a lot of shouting, before a quiet night of cards and ice-cream.
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.
A Surprise Visit by Dad’s Car (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 11, 1999
Three frustrated phone calls and a secret she will not share push Tony to plan a surprise visit, with dad at the wheel.
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.
Sleepy Phone Call Then a Soggy Interview (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 23, 1999
Tony fumbles a half asleep call from an employer, rings back to fix it, and heads off to his first interview in over a year before hitting the gym.
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.
Two Hours of Television and Tears (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 29, 1999
The night sours into two hours of television and an argument. Lyssa packs her bags, comes back and confesses how obsessed she is.
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 Cricket Night Simon Will Never Live Down (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 10, 1998
Tony watches his mates play indoor cricket and enjoys cruelly cheering on the worst batsman of the night. Afterwards come a Subway run, a nervous learner driver and weekend plans with Lyssa.
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 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.
Five Hours on a Sonnet About a View (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: April 8, 1999
The varlets, the gallows and the crumbling walls get explained, then a new sonnet about a beautiful and deceiving view takes shape.
Hiding in the Motel Shower (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: March 29, 1999
The talk drifts back to the same sore topic and the night ends badly. Morning brings a long shower, a silent room and a quiet breakfast.
Words on a Stick in the Fig Tree (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: April 15, 1999
Having walked out on the job, the diarist quits by phone, hunts for a pen, leaves a message on a stick in the old fig tree and rides home with Lyssa.
Two Wheels Round a Roundabout (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 4, 1999
Keith finds a way to skim a few more coins, Simon takes a roundabout on two wheels, and the cards at Subway run until dawn.
A Leather Jacket and an Unpaid Loan (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 23, 1999
With a week left in April, an overnight data marathon is interrupted by Lyssa ringing about money again and again. Her new leather jacket is the problem.
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.
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.
Windows 3.1 and a Brain-Draining Day (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 15, 1999
With bus money raided from his dad’s car, the diarist finally starts his first job in years, struggles with old software and walks back across the bridge at lunch.
Chasing a Party That Kept Moving (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 11, 1998
A sleepy Thursday turns into a night of chasing an after party from Ingleburn to Kentlyn with nothing to show for it. The only prize is a very long drive home.
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.
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.
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 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.
Flushing Cockroaches and Judging Keith (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: March 30, 1999
Two weeks of aged thoughts finally get aired, from cockroach warfare to a swollen eye, plain dreams and Keith’s endless money schemes.
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.
A Million Dollar Ring Idea (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 12, 1999
A huge diamond on TV inspires a poem about trading riches for love, while a friend returns from Brisbane with big stories.
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.
Inventing the Word Disgress (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: March 30, 1999
Fate mocks every old relationship, the neighbors are moving, and a made-up word called disgress gets its definition along with two movie ideas.
An All-Nighter of Madden With Shawn (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 18, 1999
A brain in meltdown, an awkward call about a lost job and a night of Madden that turns into a long, giggly all-nighter. Even the eye colour changes.
Interrupted By A Phone Call (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 26, 1998
A quiet night alone at last, with plenty of honest reflection from Tony about habits, nerves and a very untimely call.
Tatton Storms Off Over Black Bitch (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 6, 1999
A Monday that starts at 3:00 p.m. ends up at Subway with cards, a missing entry box and a very loud exit.
Trading Insults With Ralf by Phone (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 26, 1999
The month is nearly over and the diarist ponders fortune and misfortune. Then a bored Saturday morning turns into a string of phone calls and a plan to hit a nightclub.
I Wrote A Sonnet Instead Of Sleeping (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 12, 1999
Instead of sleeping before the beach trip, Tony stays up writing a sonnet and a short poem, then explains what each line really means.
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.
The Power Cut That Ate My Sonnet (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 25, 1999
Tony lies awake composing a poem, only for a power cut to wipe it, then picks up the story of a groggy Saturday morning with Lyssa.
Prank Callers and a Dumaresq Street Chase (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: March 30, 1999
A football season with Shawn gives way to two mystery callers, a walk to their flats and a game of cat and mouse that ends with a crazed laugh.
Keeping Lyssa Awake on the Phone (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 18, 1999
A quiet Saturday night turns to cards at Subway and a sour mood. Then the phone rings in the early hours with someone who says she only wants to talk.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Predicting Kieran’s Big Sleepover Plan (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 23, 1998
Convinced Kieran has ulterior motives for a sleepover, Tony plays out the whole night in his head and grumbles about Lyssa not listening.
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.
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.
Nikita Gets the Wrong Idea (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 7, 1999
A kind gesture on New Year’s Eve is twisted into something else, and a tense phone call with Lyssa leaves Tony angry and misunderstood.
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.
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.
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.
My Double Light Bulb Theory of Time (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 30, 1999
Past six in the morning, a new philosophy of the universe takes shape using two joined light bulbs, piping systems and fusion chambers to explain time travel.
A Laptop Dream and a Forgotten Anniversary (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 20, 1999
Another very late wake-up leads to money plans, a laptop wish and a phone call with a job tip. Tomorrow should have been an anniversary, but nobody is planning one.
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.
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.
Explaining a Sonnet and Writing Another (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 7, 1999
The author explains his latest sonnet quatrain by quatrain, then rushes a new one onto the page before sleep.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Phoenix Jokes and Armpit Headlocks (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 6, 1999
Keith throws a tantrum, Simon throws the cards, and the night ends in headlocks and gossip on the drive home.
A Cockroach and a Plan for Two (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 13, 1998
Rain, a stubborn cockroach and a quiet night in lead Tony to map out a hopeful future with Lyssa. He then retells a Wednesday night that began at a servo and a handshake.
Where Did The Hours Go (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 14, 1999
A biceps session, a sleepy talk about time and a few new lines of verse round off a quiet night before a big birthday weekend.
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.
Calamari Rings and a Cold Goodbye (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: April 13, 1999
After a squatter takes over the fig tree, lunch with Lyssa turns awkward, a calamari ring goes down the wrong way, and a loan call confirms the distance between them.
Playing Cold With Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 26, 1999
A mood that will not lift, gossip about Imad and a strained phone call with Lyssa. Tony tries to stay distant while the tears start on the other end.
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.
Cola, Cards and Blocking the Toilet Door (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 21, 1999
A blank mind and a sleeping problem give way to a late visit from Keith and Shawn. A long card game ends with pot plants, gas containers and a flying cup of cola.
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.
Marriage Advice Over the Gym Counter (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 22, 1999
A short poem on ageing opens a catch up entry, followed by a Wednesday gym session and an unexpected heart to heart about marriage at the gym counter.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Staring Women and a Broken Chain (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: April 15, 1999
Out of work again, the diarist builds theories about jobs that feel like hobbies, why women stare, a broken chain as fate, and the laptop he wants to buy.
Carriage Hopping And A Flooded Station (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 23, 1998
A late night train ride to the City, a burst water main at Wynyard and two scary break in attempts at Lyssa’s house fill a long diary day.
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.
Three Years of Diary and a Dodgy Birthday – Mad Chaos: April 22, 1999
Spell-checking the early diary entries shows how much the writing has changed in three years. Then comes a birthday mix-up and a heavy look at the news.
We Tore Up the Forgotten Years (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 23, 1998
Tony admits the month has finally slid downhill after a fight over old letters. He then rewinds to Saturday night, a late bus, a rented movie and a few nagging worries about Keith.
Anatomy Charts for a Gym Nerd (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 26, 1998
A quick, heavy workout sparks a plan to scan old magazine diagrams and build a computer guide to every muscle, while the phone stays quiet.
My Golden Chain Gives Way (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
A snapped gold chain, a dance floor full of friends and one girl Tony was too nervous to approach.
Gunshots I Mistook for Fireworks (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 14, 1998
Lyssa visits in a skirt for a quiet movie night, and later the mates find the local festival has shrunk. Back home, the sounds Tony heard turn out to be something far more serious than fireworks.
Midnight Verse For A Girl Who Might Not Read It – Mad Chaos: November 6, 1998
Tony cannot sleep for thinking of Lyssa and sketches a grand Christmas surprise, complete with a poem. It is love at its most hopeful and most unrealistic.
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.
Piecing Together a Messy Weekend (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 26, 1998
Keith arrives with news from a chaotic weekend, and every friend has a different version of what really happened that night.
Lens Cap Photo With Strangers (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 25, 1998
The Christmas night out rolls on with hugs from unexpected people and a nervous exit. A late phone call back home delivers a pile of Lyssa’s own Christmas gossip.
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.
My Anniversary Slipped Right Past Me (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 20, 1998
The penny drops about a significant date with Lyssa. Tony then wanders back through his teenage years, from school and music to his first computer.
A Microphone And A Sleep Talker (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998
After a long Saturday night, Tony sneaks to his computer to write and tries recording Lyssa as she sleep talks, which does not go smoothly.
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.
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.