have landed

spent the day in LA today...flying out to NYC tomorrow. I am making use of the free interent provided at our hotel while it lasts. There have been lots of fun things happening already...like
* dad getting singled out to be whathe calls 'frisked'
* dad nearly sroppinghis passport down to the tarmac through a gap in the plane steps
* us catching a bus through some dodgy neighbourhoods - a fight ensuing on the bus - us all having to get out and stand on the street until another bus arrived. Winess statements anyone?????????

it's here

well you get the idea - and I really really like this song. I am leaving on a jet plane, but I'm pretty sure I'm not bringing anyone a ring back - well not a wedding ring - maybe a cute little stacker from Tiffany though.

i heart entertaining

sometimes. But last night I definitely did. I had a brief window of opportunity to catch up with friends last night. They are both only back for a few weeks and since I leave on Saturday, last night was it.

A good time was had by all, maybe a few too many drinkies and definitely lots of laughs - as seen in the photo - I don't know what was so funny.

Even though I thought my plans for the entertainment precinct were going to be washed out - I decided probably half an hour before the guests arrived that we would sit outside.

After all that - I learnt that I shouldn't sleep in bobby pins and that going to the gym when you are still probably a little bit drunky mcdrunk is interesting...

Bed Hair

Now obviously this is Christmas morning and is the same Christmas as the previous post. I have a love affair with stationery - I think it started quite early. And perhaps I will pick up a little pencil case not too dissimilar from the one pictured when next I am in Disneyland.

Can we just take a moment though to truly appreciate the bed hair that I have 'goin orn' in this photo. It's noice. And I'm pretty sure the nightie would not pass fire safety muster - 100% nylon anyone???

Are you sick of the nostalgic photos yet?

share and share alike

I think my sister was wanting something I had. She would have just been 1 and I would nearly be 5 , and well let me say some things have not changed.

BTW - the chair I am sitting in was a staple in our house for a long, long, long time. I wish we had kept it , had it recovered etc etc because I bet you can't get anything as sturdy today.

lychee martini anyone???

Don't mind if I do! Have one ...or two...or three...or who's counting anyway! Yesterday we had our family Christmas a week wearlier than usual becasue of the big trip. We went to WATT which we always love. It was raining quite heavily and well I think people could use my hair to tell the weather. Frizz factor five...it's raining! WE had a great day - this week is full of celebrations - I am not too sure when I am going to be packing...panic stations. Pretty sure I shouldn't leave it until Saturday morning...

preparations are underway

for the upcoming os jaunt. Last night we dug our suitcases out - well it wasn't actually digging because they were stored at a great height, it was more like precariously balancing on a ladder - but I digress. We always take our backpacks inside our suitcase, you know so you have room for all of the 'kulcha' you want to bring home with you. My backpack is old and sad, the insides are peeling away and I will have to put everything inside a garbage bag so it doesn't get black stuff all over it. I also thought - hmmmmmmmmm I never use the straps so I might cut them out.

I said to my sister, " Do you think it will be ok if I cut this stuff out? "
She looked at me and said, "Yeah why not"
So then I cut a strap, and I said, "well no going back now"

My Sister looked at me and said " Ummm what are you doing?"
I said " Cutting the backpkack straps off my backpack"
She said " Ummmm I didn't know that, what are you going to carry it with?"

I think this confirms that she never really listens to anything I say. I did continue though, and hacked off all of the straps and took out the aluminium hard rail things - and I am pretty sure I am going to love my new - garbage bagged interior backpack, sans backpack!

first christmas

So I'm thinking this must be my first Christmas. For a lot of years - we always had Christmas with my Dad's family. This is underneath Nanna and Grandad's house at Taringa. We always - still to this day - wear the hats out of the bon-bons. Nanna and Grandad's house was fun - well as long as we didn't hassle nanna for stuff ( remember mum and dad's instructions). They had a big goldfish pond, a macadamia tree that you used grandad's built in bench vice to crack open, and a game of coits(?) that was attached to the wall. These things kept us kids occupied for ages and ages and ages. WE stopped having Christmas here when everyone got older and started having their own kids - sometimes Christmas can be tooooooo big. Also I am pretty sure that is my mum in the background - I've seen that dress before.

slap a 'new' sticker on it

and I want it. I am attracted to anything new in the supermarket that has a big flashin sticker attached that says it is new. So obviously when my sister told me about "milky feet" the new sensation sweeping the pharmacy world - I just had to have some. The concept is thus - you put them on your feet and lo and behold 5-10 days later it's like you have had a pedicure - all of the dry skin peels off of your feet. It actually sounds kind of gross but I did it none the less - it was also an excuse to sit with my feet up for a whole hour and do nothing ( because those are the instructions on the box) I am actually a little bit concerned about what the product actually is - but hey I 'milky feeted' on Saturday and haven't keeled over so...tomorrow is day 5!

70's Style

I loved the Santa on one leg that is in the front of the tree. He was doing a merry jig! I was sad when he had to go to the dump. I don't know how things rocked in your house - but in our house, there were never ever any presents under the tree before Christmas morning. EVER. Even the presents that were bought for others weren't put out. All of the presents were delivered by SANTA on Christmas Eve night. It was amazing to wake up on Christmas morning and see all of the presents that had arrived via reindeer and a jolly red man in a suit.

parteeeeee

I like Christmas parties. And last nights was no different. I had a good time, and I drank ... too ... much ... water ..well it was clear liquid anyway

the office

These are the final pictures from my 2 weeks spent in the big city. Today was my first day back at work - and it was a humdinger. Combined with the fact that I had to deal with all of the "been away from my normal job for 2 weeks' drama - there was also the end of year factor upon us. You know what happens when you realise that you've put up with some people for a whole year...and ...you...have...just...now...today..reached...breaking..point. SNAP!!!!!!!

Thankfully I only have another 3 days to go , and well the third day will be fun because we all know it is the end.

I had quite a nice view from my desk. I think I could quite happily look at this view. I am also quiet sure that I really didn't need, water, a nutrient water, and a coke zero on my desk..oh and a bag of goodies. I have a suspicion that it is a piece of FrenchToast which I became quite accustomed to each day - only 2.20 I mean really bargain! NW though - 4.50 a bottle RIP OFF!

Tis the season

So obviously it is December - how did that happen? Which obviously means that Christmas is here again. I mean has it really been a year? Of course I have a whole heap of nostalgic photos that I will be displaying over the next few weeks - but I thought today I would start with the obligatory Santa photo. WE were never scared of Santa - that I can remember and in fact I remember mum being quite clear about the fact that if you didn't believe in Santa he no longer delivered. Can I just say I STILL BELIEVE!

observations

so my work in the city has finished and I have observed several tings over the course of the 2 weeks...things like
* I think it is rude not to put your phone on silent...in the office..on the train etc. I also think it is not good to talk on your phone on the train. I really don't care what you are doing tonight, what you did last night, what the problems are at work. I don't KNOW YOU
*If I can hear the song you are listening to on your ipod - it is TOO loud
*What is with every single place selling coffee. People buying coffe add a lot of time to the procedure If it is a sandwich shop - it makes sandwiches not coffees
* lavender chocolates are yummy
*having one of those security keys neck things are a pain in the BUTT
* I am very appreciative of the fact that I live 5 mins from work...very glad. I was leaving home at 5.30 in the morning and not getting home until after 6. That is a long time to be away from home. I felt like all I did was go to work come hoem and then get ready to go to the gym again
*this is my last week at work - and I am seriously behind - but Oh well. It will all be fine.

I really did like my time in the city and would do it again if I was asked.

also

hey T...since you are not on moby...not on facey...this is the only way to say HEYA!

43 Things

Ok so I have finally finalised my list of things. I am going to focus on these things next year. Hopefully I will be able to update the list and cross things off as I achieve them. Have a look at the side bar >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This week I have continued working in the city. I am enjoying but am missing my regular place of work. It is also super expensive by the time you buy lunch coffee etc.

Yesterday my friend Leesy J and her daughter Ivy came and met me for lunch. We had a super time- I even took my camera so I could take a photo but I forgot :( I have continued getting ready at the gym - and can I just say that I really don't like it when people make out the locker / shower room is theirs - because quite obviously it is MINE! Someone was using my shower this morning, then I had to change lockers because someone put their stuff near mine and well a girl needs space to spread out her stuff. By the end of the week I will have this getting ready at the gym thing down to a fine art, and then it will be time to stop. Perhaps I should just get ready at the gym forever and ever. Although showering in thongs is not the funnest thing ever. Would you wear thongs in the shower in a public shower? I notice a lot of people don't. Hello TINEA!

101 things

is against me. I just went on the site to update my list - and what do you know. It is telling me I don;t exist. Now this happened to me the first time I created the list but I thought "oh Ok maybe it's because I didn't write anything in the list" So i didn't worry. Now I am cranky because I had about 60 things on my list and it is telling me my email address is not valid and well whaddya know it is. So Day Zero Project you are DTM!

PS I do still like the idea of this sort of thing though so I will keep going with the idea

what did you do tonight?

i have...in no particular order

- slept on the couch

- watched TV

- eaten some cake ...for dinner

- sweated

-bought some songs on Itunes.

and trolled around on the net and found these cute things

and this...from a site called My life is average

Today, I attended a co-worker's wedding. A little boy who looked about 6 was coming down the aisle and he took two steps, stopped, and turned to the crowd (alternating between bride's side and groom's side), put his hands up like claws, and roared. Step, step, ROAR, step step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle. The crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit. The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing and was almost crying. When asked what he was doing, he sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear." MLIA

SITC...

not - but i have been doing plenty of other stuff in the city.

I have been working in the city since Wednesday and what an adventure it has been. Some highlights
* catching public transport. I had to get a go card - how grown up.
* catching the train at an ungodly hour - see the watch. Already I had been to the gym - I have been getting ready at the gym which does take some organisation I must say. I was literally sitting in the train waiting for it to moooooooooooooooove. Also can I say here that I love the concept of an express train however I don't think just missing 3 stations out of 20 is enough. I think it should be more.
* On the first day when I was being all city girl - I was getting off the train - gocard at the ready to swipe- and guess what happened. Can you even guess? My shoe - the black ones picture got caught in the little tiny space that exists for the door to slide open on. Completely stuck. I kept moving my shoe did not!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course this is rush hour and there are literally a bazillion people. I don't want to put my foot down because lord knows where that platform has been - and so I am hopping around - people are getting cranky - and my shoe is still stuck. A kind young fellow finally got it our for me - and off I hobbled. I also totally got caught up in the wave of people and ended up in a part of central station I have never ever been before - quite literally. It was weird!
* Wednesday night I had to wait around and then catch a bus to meet up with the family for dinner. I am not a bus person but managed this ok.
*You can see my desk - I have a nice view - and at times there are men working literally right outside my window - for some reason. I am on the 8th floor.
*have managed to have a starbucks every day - nice
* Oh and the work - is good - but at the end of three days I am totally and utterly shagged - and not in the good way. Can you say that?????

i haven't forgotten

about my 101 things in 1000 days project. I am still working on the list and will some how work it into my page when it is finalised. 101 things is actually a lot

weekend adventures

This week is dad and Jo's birthday week. Yesterday we went out to Karoomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm for lunch. It was yummy - of course - it always is! The only slight problem was that they did not serve beer. Which was a bit of a shock for dad. I didn't know there was no beer. Dad did manage to struggle through lunch though.

OMG! AGAIN

Pretty sure I have mentioned one of my fav websites of late is people of walmart. While checking my goggle reader this morning - this was one of the pictures. I was totally lost for words. I love people of walmart, and can now often be heard muttering people of walmart alert when I see something that would be oh so appropriate. It really is worth clicking on the link

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/?p=6714

something from shirl

Shirl emailed this through to me...thought I'd blog my responses

USING ONLY ONE WORD

Not as easy as you might think!

It's really hard to only use one word answers.


Where is your cell phone? desk

Significant other? absent
Your hair? hot
Your mother? bunny

Your father? funny

Your favorite thing? reading
Your dream last night? none

Your favorite drink? gin
What room are you in? sleepout
Your hobby? shopping

Your fear? mice
Where do you want to be in 6 years? NYC

Where were you last night? dad's

Something that you aren't? skinny
Muffins? Cupcakes

Wish list item? Beachhouse
Last thing you did? this

What are you wearing?Pyjamas
Your pets? Gidgee
Friends? Superfun
Your life? Hectic

Your mood? tired
Missing someone? yes
Drinking? Water
Your car? Dirty
Something you're not wearing? Bra
Your favourite store? CR

Your favorite color? depends
When is the last time you cried? ?
Where do you go to over and over? dads
Five people who email me regularly?
My favorite place to eat? viet
Favorite place I'd like to be at right now? NYC

formal attire

Last night I went to what felt like my 10 000 formal. Yes your dress beautiful. Don't you look great. Blah Blah Blah...so to bring right back to me I thought I would again take a trip down memory lane and show you my formal photo. This is quite literally 19 years ago. I think we can all admit that apart from the earrings and hairdo, everything still totally wearable. I still have the dress - alas it does not fit. I love the dad has obviously put some effort into his outfit - and left his socks on - oh no wait a minute that is his permanent tan line, from wearing boots and socks all day. He also has a permanent singlet ( if anyone is interested) Also while I'm talking about dad - he never ever wears uncollared shirts - ever. I have never seen my dad in a round neck t-shirt. EVER! His pyjamas even have collars.

it's a day...

for swimming..not working - don't ya think? Once again the old scanned photos come in handy. Who doesn't love a backyard pool? I'm thinking this must be 1974... it definitely isn't our house because dad never agreed to us having a pool. He envisioned that he would be the one who would be doing all the work for it - and he was probably right. We somehow survived our childhood sans pool though - and manage to be happy adults...

Upon my return from the gym this morning - the temperature gauge said 27...it was 6.30! My neighbourhood is predicting 38 today. See what I mean about a day for swimming

frazzled

Since about Thursday of last week - I have had various points in the day when my head has felt like it is going to explode. I have an extremely, extremely busy couple of weeks coming up so my commitment to blogging may just wane a little. Before you ALL start crying - I said may - I may very well manage to blog every day...I may not.

Won't that be a surprise.

cottage industry

I have my aunty Shirl on board for a little dressmaking project. I arrived at her house the other for a dress fitting and this sign was on the door!

I have also recruited another 'worker' - so effectively I have two people who could hang this sign on their door. I told them that managers ( ie me) don't have to do much except rake in the big bucks so they should get used to it.

101 things in 1001 days

So I have had an absolute shocker of a day today. Shocker I say. I really need to not get so worked up about things. This I am afraid is not so easy for me. While looking around the net tonight I came across this site...

www.dayzeroproject.com

Check it out. I have signed up...now I just need to work out my 101 things. Would you like to join me (and a gazillion other people) in the project?

I'm not sure how this relates to me having a crappy day but I am too over it to try and work out the connection. I am sure it is there - maybe me having a list will make me less stressed? maybe? who knows

currently in november

I saw this at one of the many sites I visit...thought it was a good idea and that I might give it a spin for a little while.

Current Books: Murder under the Mangoes. A collection of short stories by Queensland crime writers. This is a re-read but last time I read it I don't think I took it all in. It was, you could say a stressful time - I was separating from my husband. When I cam across it in the bookshelf I thought - yes I'll give it another go

Current Playlist: Downloaded Mumford & Sons and Illy on the weekend.

Current Guilty Pleasure: If the weekend was anything to go by - white bread. Nothing better

Current Colour: I'm wearing navy today.

Current Drink: Raspberry and White Iced Tea. Also Dr Red Green tea - it is yum


Current Food: Jojo's world famous chickpea salad

Current Favorite Show: Private Practice - OMG - Violet and Pete

Current Wishlist: not sure

Current Needs: right at this very minute... ; - )

Current Triumphs: having sold all of the clothes at the boot sale -

Current Bane Of My Existence: humidity...oh my hair...fuzz factor five

Current Celebrity Crush: Pete from Private Practice

Current Indulgence: the upcoming OS trip

Current Slang: WTF

Current Outfit: a navy dress

Current Excitement: the looming holidays

Current Mood: stressed...stressed..stressed...but trying to relax


Current Link: found this the other day. Me likey.

What do you think of this new idea...should it stay or should it go?

just not proper

this was delivered on Saturday morning. AT 5.15...in the AM people. This shouldn't be a big deal, but it was because it was thrown in this spot we a great thud, and this spot is less than 1 metre from my sleeping head! Not proper at all, and another thing don't even get me started on why these things are still delivered. I haven't ever used one...ever.

signs...

of things to come mayhaps? I mean obviously at this age I am pretty sure that mum and dad didn't let me crack open a bottle...but now without a doubt, many decades later I don't mind a tipple or two if the mood strikes me. Since the silly season is almost upon us I feel there could be some tipples coming up..but definitely no spills.

I love the way my Aunty Mona - (the eldest of the sisters) was always a decorator. Exhibit A the fake grapes draped lovingly from the wine rack. Given that Mum and her sisters are very anti-alcohol I probably think the whole rack was for display purposes only.