Happy Happy New Year 2007 !
I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year! I hope to have a lot more to say in the coming year, not to mention hoping to sharpen my wit and writing ability.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Happy New Year
Happy Happy New Year 2007 !
I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year! I hope to have a lot more to say in the coming year, not to mention hoping to sharpen my wit and writing ability.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Daniel Craig & Casino Royale
Casino Royale! - Warning! SPOILER!I finally got to see it last night. WOW! Was I ever impressed! Totally NOT what I expected in the new Bond Film. Daniel Craig was HOT. The movie, Casino Royale was more than a step away from the expected in a Bond Film. I'm not certain what I actually expected before I went, but I knew it was going to be a departure from the traditional role that Ian Fleming created...the archetypal suave and debonaire spy that all the women loved and all the villains loved to hate and could never best.
Yes, it was crude. M said that she wanted Bond to be more than a blunt instrument. One could see how he needed to have two kills to be a "Double O" and the first was harsh, gritty, and messy. The second just a simple "plop" of a pistol - Oh so easy. Or so one is lead to think. I could just see the sociopath growing stronger as he became accustomed to killing.
Then, came the scene where he followed some guy into the Ugandan Embassy. I do use the term followed loosely, as it's THE most action packed scene in the whole film. It was a WOW, OH. MY. GOD!!! Type of scene, where I was gasping for air, squeezing C~'s thigh and arm, and generally feeling like I was right there in the thick of things as the scene unfolded. The only other movie that did that to me was Saving Private Ryan.
Needless to say, I felt that it was an awesome movie. I don't often get to go to the theatre to see movies, so when I do, I want it to be spectacular. So far, I haven't been disappointed this year.
So far, I have seen, Eight Below, The Prestige, The Legend of Zorro, and perhaps one or two others that I can't pull out of my sleep deprived brain at this moment. If I do remember, I shall attempt to edit this for more info.
Enjoy the DC pic, I did, thanks to wikipedia where I took it from *grin*
What it's like to live overseas, especially during the holidays...
"This was originally posted on UK-Yankee.com by Mindy and other
long-time members there. It's been changed slightly for the
Americans-in-Australia crowd. :-)
<http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=25243.15>"
I have borrowed this from my yahoo group...it was re-posted by the moderator and I am using it for several reasons. 1. So that my friends and family "back home" can perhaps have an inkling of what I am/have been going through over here. 2. For others that read my blog and are perhaps considering a move to another country. 3. To remind myself of these things as well, so that when I get a little down, I can remember that others all over the world are going through the same exact things, too. I have posted as is, with only a few minor alterations to protect certain people.
This is a topic that I've been thinking about for awhile now. I
haven't posted it as a response to anyone, and I don't want anyone
to think it's aimed at them. It isn't. It's just some honest
advice that I think people should take into consideration before
making the move. I think that at times people get a bit carried
away with being in love and don't think about the reality of moving
to a different country. And I also think that because our two
cultures are similar and we speak the same language they think that
it's going to be easier than it actually is.
I also don't want to be too negative or scare people off. You can
move here and make a life and be happy, but there are some things
that I think would be a good idea to ask yourself.
*Are you open minded? Moving to a new country is remarkable
experience, but you need to be able to look at things from a
different viewpoint than the one you were raised with. You're going
to meet people with different backgrounds, opinions and ways of
doing things. You need to accept that the American way is not the
only way.
*Are you set in your ways? Things are different here. Schools,
hospitals, banking and work practices are just a few of the many
things that you're going to run up against that are 'not the way we
do it'. You have to be willing to learn how things work if you are
going function in a country that is totally not like your own
*Are you diplomatic? You're going to come across people who are
critical of your country and its government. You are going to need
to keep your cool and talk yourself out of some situations where you
feel uncomfortable. You're also going to have learn when someone's
only joking and when someone's serious about this.
*Are you good at watching and listening? You need to learn
everything. The best way to do this is to watch other people, see
how they do things without telling them how you think it should be
done.
*Are you a homebody? If you've never left the place where you were
born, if you're very close to your family, then it's going to be
difficult. Really difficult. You need to be prepared to have years
between visits home, you need to be prepared to not see parents,
siblings and nieces and nephews. The most difficult part of being
an expat is having bad things-death, illness, accidents-happen and
not being able to be there. You're going to miss good things too-
weddings, births, family parties. And not all family and friends
are good about keeping in touch. A lot of expats feel abandoned by
their families when they move.
*Do you have family support? You need your family to be behind you
in a supportive non-judgemental way. It's not impossible without
this, but it sure makes it easier.
*Are you determined? It's not easy making friends here.
Australians, especially women, relate to eachother a little bit
differently from Americans. They tend to make friends young and
hang onto them for life. You can make friends but it will take
determination and a thick skin on your part. You need to be
outgoing and proactive.
*Are you adventurous? You'll have to take buses and trains, and go
to unfamiliar places. Everyone will be a stranger to you. You have
got to be brave or you'll never leave the house.
*Is your career everything to you? Because it's not always easy to
find a job in your field and a lot of people have had to take jobs
that they were vastly overqualified for. And not all degrees and
qualifications automatically transfer. It takes a lot of
perseverance to find the right job for you.
* Can you live on a tighter budget than you're used to? Not only
may you have a lower salary than you did in the US, but you may find
that the cost of living in Australia is higher. Don't assume that
you will be able to dine out every week, or buy the latest fashions
as soon as they show up in the shops.
* Are you running away from anything? A job you hate, family
problems, a bad relationship, depression? Most people go through a
very stressful adjustment period when they get to a new country to
live - either for a set length of time or indefinitely. While it is
entirely possible to work through your issues during the process of
moving, you need to be prepared for the fact that life might not be
all smiles and roses right away.
* Do you have realistic expectations of what life in Australia may
be like? Have you visited (yes, some people plan moving here having
never visited!)? Have you spent a significant amount of time here?
If not, make sure that your perceptions of everyday life over here
are not based on books you've read, television shows, etc. Remember
that Australia is like any other country -- your way of life will
vary according to the place you live and your income, amongst many
other things. Try to not build up a vision of life here based on
stereotypes or you be disappointed.
* If you are moving over with kids, make sure you know the
differences in the educational system & if it would work for your
kids. Be prepared for some serious blowouts with them...or they may
love it while you are unhappy.
* If you are moving over with kids: Is your nuclear family secure?
While you are adjusting to a new place, the only people you will
have to rely on is each other. Your kids will need that stability.
* *Are you willing to try new things? There's no good Mexican food,
there's no Wal-Mart, there are no graham crackers or Hersheys
chocolate. You're going to have to try new food, find substitutes,
shop in unfamiliar stores. If this fills you with dread or you
can't cook without Hamburger Helper it's going to be difficult.
* If moving over to be with a spouse - are they aware of what issues
you may face? Can you speak to them openly? Are they control freaks
that insist you automatically do everything their way? Or tell you
everythign you do is wrong? Basically, do you have an open and
healthy relationship? Moving countries is hard work and if your
spouse is a horses patootee it will not help.
* For the ladies (certainly something I've had to consider) -- are
you willing to have and raise a baby without your own
mother/grandmother/family around long-term?
* If moving over to be with a spouse - what are your in-laws like?
Do they like you? Are they accepting of the fact that
you're "different"?
* If moving over to be with a spouse - are you commited? If in the
back or your mind, you're thinking that this is only temporary or
you're going to be able to change your spouse's mind about moving,
then you're probably kidding yourself. You'll find it hard to
settle if you really haven't got the mindset that this is your new
life and you've got to live it.
If your spouse has said he/she doesn't want to move to the US, he's
probably not going to change his mind, and once you have a mortgage
and babies and commitments that will get harder and harder.
*Do you think you can change people? The person you're
marrying/moving to be with is NOT American. They're not going to
become American. They aren't going suddenly start
dressing/acting/talking and beleiving like an American. If you have
kids, they are not going to be American. And you cannot recreat
the 'American Experience'. It doesn't exist and you're just going
to make everyone unhappy with all your comparing.
*Are you creative? You'll need to incorporate your own traditions
into Australian ones. You'll need to be able to find substitutions
for food items you're used to. And you'll need to look at new ways
to celebrate holidays that are important to you.
* Are you willing to seek professional help? Many expats suffer
from depression... not just sadness, but depression... they then try
to "snap out of it" or "go it alone". You need to be willing to ask
for help and then follow through with that help sometimes.
Just one more of my own to add:
* The reversal of seasons. How do you feel about celebrating
Christmas in the summertime and bundling up during June & July? I'm
not talking about once for novelty's sake, but FOREVER. I think
this affects people more than they think it will. Also, most
Australians don't celebrate Halloween and definitely not
Thanksgiving. Unless you go out of your way to celebrate and find
all the "authentic" decorations & foods, it'll be "just another day"
here. Something else to think about.
Personally, the big thing for ME has been the celebration of holidays. Especially the way I'm used to celebrating things "back home". I miss snow, I miss cold weather. I miss dressing up in velvet and long-sleeves to go out to Christmas parties and spending time with my family. I miss Thanksgiving and cooking a huge meal for everyone to enjoy, again, in the cold weather LOL. It's really weird cooking a huge holiday meal in 90 degree weather with no air conditioning.
These were just a few thoughts, and my friend and moderator of my yahoo group posted this just as I had been thinking about it, as well as getting in arguments with C~ over things just like this.
long-time members there. It's been changed slightly for the
Americans-in-Australia crowd. :-)
<http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=25243.15>"
I have borrowed this from my yahoo group...it was re-posted by the moderator and I am using it for several reasons. 1. So that my friends and family "back home" can perhaps have an inkling of what I am/have been going through over here. 2. For others that read my blog and are perhaps considering a move to another country. 3. To remind myself of these things as well, so that when I get a little down, I can remember that others all over the world are going through the same exact things, too. I have posted as is, with only a few minor alterations to protect certain people.
This is a topic that I've been thinking about for awhile now. I
haven't posted it as a response to anyone, and I don't want anyone
to think it's aimed at them. It isn't. It's just some honest
advice that I think people should take into consideration before
making the move. I think that at times people get a bit carried
away with being in love and don't think about the reality of moving
to a different country. And I also think that because our two
cultures are similar and we speak the same language they think that
it's going to be easier than it actually is.
I also don't want to be too negative or scare people off. You can
move here and make a life and be happy, but there are some things
that I think would be a good idea to ask yourself.
*Are you open minded? Moving to a new country is remarkable
experience, but you need to be able to look at things from a
different viewpoint than the one you were raised with. You're going
to meet people with different backgrounds, opinions and ways of
doing things. You need to accept that the American way is not the
only way.
*Are you set in your ways? Things are different here. Schools,
hospitals, banking and work practices are just a few of the many
things that you're going to run up against that are 'not the way we
do it'. You have to be willing to learn how things work if you are
going function in a country that is totally not like your own
*Are you diplomatic? You're going to come across people who are
critical of your country and its government. You are going to need
to keep your cool and talk yourself out of some situations where you
feel uncomfortable. You're also going to have learn when someone's
only joking and when someone's serious about this.
*Are you good at watching and listening? You need to learn
everything. The best way to do this is to watch other people, see
how they do things without telling them how you think it should be
done.
*Are you a homebody? If you've never left the place where you were
born, if you're very close to your family, then it's going to be
difficult. Really difficult. You need to be prepared to have years
between visits home, you need to be prepared to not see parents,
siblings and nieces and nephews. The most difficult part of being
an expat is having bad things-death, illness, accidents-happen and
not being able to be there. You're going to miss good things too-
weddings, births, family parties. And not all family and friends
are good about keeping in touch. A lot of expats feel abandoned by
their families when they move.
*Do you have family support? You need your family to be behind you
in a supportive non-judgemental way. It's not impossible without
this, but it sure makes it easier.
*Are you determined? It's not easy making friends here.
Australians, especially women, relate to eachother a little bit
differently from Americans. They tend to make friends young and
hang onto them for life. You can make friends but it will take
determination and a thick skin on your part. You need to be
outgoing and proactive.
*Are you adventurous? You'll have to take buses and trains, and go
to unfamiliar places. Everyone will be a stranger to you. You have
got to be brave or you'll never leave the house.
*Is your career everything to you? Because it's not always easy to
find a job in your field and a lot of people have had to take jobs
that they were vastly overqualified for. And not all degrees and
qualifications automatically transfer. It takes a lot of
perseverance to find the right job for you.
* Can you live on a tighter budget than you're used to? Not only
may you have a lower salary than you did in the US, but you may find
that the cost of living in Australia is higher. Don't assume that
you will be able to dine out every week, or buy the latest fashions
as soon as they show up in the shops.
* Are you running away from anything? A job you hate, family
problems, a bad relationship, depression? Most people go through a
very stressful adjustment period when they get to a new country to
live - either for a set length of time or indefinitely. While it is
entirely possible to work through your issues during the process of
moving, you need to be prepared for the fact that life might not be
all smiles and roses right away.
* Do you have realistic expectations of what life in Australia may
be like? Have you visited (yes, some people plan moving here having
never visited!)? Have you spent a significant amount of time here?
If not, make sure that your perceptions of everyday life over here
are not based on books you've read, television shows, etc. Remember
that Australia is like any other country -- your way of life will
vary according to the place you live and your income, amongst many
other things. Try to not build up a vision of life here based on
stereotypes or you be disappointed.
* If you are moving over with kids, make sure you know the
differences in the educational system & if it would work for your
kids. Be prepared for some serious blowouts with them...or they may
love it while you are unhappy.
* If you are moving over with kids: Is your nuclear family secure?
While you are adjusting to a new place, the only people you will
have to rely on is each other. Your kids will need that stability.
* *Are you willing to try new things? There's no good Mexican food,
there's no Wal-Mart, there are no graham crackers or Hersheys
chocolate. You're going to have to try new food, find substitutes,
shop in unfamiliar stores. If this fills you with dread or you
can't cook without Hamburger Helper it's going to be difficult.
* If moving over to be with a spouse - are they aware of what issues
you may face? Can you speak to them openly? Are they control freaks
that insist you automatically do everything their way? Or tell you
everythign you do is wrong? Basically, do you have an open and
healthy relationship? Moving countries is hard work and if your
spouse is a horses patootee it will not help.
* For the ladies (certainly something I've had to consider) -- are
you willing to have and raise a baby without your own
mother/grandmother/family around long-term?
* If moving over to be with a spouse - what are your in-laws like?
Do they like you? Are they accepting of the fact that
you're "different"?
* If moving over to be with a spouse - are you commited? If in the
back or your mind, you're thinking that this is only temporary or
you're going to be able to change your spouse's mind about moving,
then you're probably kidding yourself. You'll find it hard to
settle if you really haven't got the mindset that this is your new
life and you've got to live it.
If your spouse has said he/she doesn't want to move to the US, he's
probably not going to change his mind, and once you have a mortgage
and babies and commitments that will get harder and harder.
*Do you think you can change people? The person you're
marrying/moving to be with is NOT American. They're not going to
become American. They aren't going suddenly start
dressing/acting/talking and beleiving like an American. If you have
kids, they are not going to be American. And you cannot recreat
the 'American Experience'. It doesn't exist and you're just going
to make everyone unhappy with all your comparing.
*Are you creative? You'll need to incorporate your own traditions
into Australian ones. You'll need to be able to find substitutions
for food items you're used to. And you'll need to look at new ways
to celebrate holidays that are important to you.
* Are you willing to seek professional help? Many expats suffer
from depression... not just sadness, but depression... they then try
to "snap out of it" or "go it alone". You need to be willing to ask
for help and then follow through with that help sometimes.
Just one more of my own to add:
* The reversal of seasons. How do you feel about celebrating
Christmas in the summertime and bundling up during June & July? I'm
not talking about once for novelty's sake, but FOREVER. I think
this affects people more than they think it will. Also, most
Australians don't celebrate Halloween and definitely not
Thanksgiving. Unless you go out of your way to celebrate and find
all the "authentic" decorations & foods, it'll be "just another day"
here. Something else to think about.
Personally, the big thing for ME has been the celebration of holidays. Especially the way I'm used to celebrating things "back home". I miss snow, I miss cold weather. I miss dressing up in velvet and long-sleeves to go out to Christmas parties and spending time with my family. I miss Thanksgiving and cooking a huge meal for everyone to enjoy, again, in the cold weather LOL. It's really weird cooking a huge holiday meal in 90 degree weather with no air conditioning.
These were just a few thoughts, and my friend and moderator of my yahoo group posted this just as I had been thinking about it, as well as getting in arguments with C~ over things just like this.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Longing for the Genteel South
It's finally over! Boxing Day is DEAD!
Thank the good Lord! I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I agreed to go shopping this morning for leftover Christmas goodies to match our other Christmas goodies that we'd paid full price for weeks ago.
Yes, I am an American. Yes, I've been shopping on Black Friday. Yep, also on the day after Christmas. Once again, yes to having shopped on Christmas Eve.
Oh. My. GOD! I have never in my life been stepped on, shoved, pushed, and reviled to get the hell out of someone's way just so they could fight over some tacky piece of 50% off shitty, half broken ornament. What the hell is this world coming to? C~ hastened to remind me of all the horror stories that come over from the USA of shoppers experiences...such as people getting mugged whilst in line, "ladies" fighting in parking lots, full on battles over Tickle Me Elmo's and so on and so forth, ad nauseum.
Well! I have never seen it happen. Perhaps it is because I am a product of the "Genteel South"? Who knows? All I know is that now I am about to settle down at 3 pm to rest my poor widdle feetsies, have a glass of wine, turn on the Boxing Day Test, and read a little bit of a "trashy" (tongue on cheek) Catherine Coulter novel called Lord Harry.
*gif image borrowed from mooselet*
Sunday, December 24, 2006
The best thing about being a grown-up at Christmas
You know, one of the greatest things about being an adult is being able to open one's presents on Christmas Eve. The other great thing is being able to eat dessert before dinner and not giving a darn if it ruins dinner.
I love being married to C~ because he gives me silly gifts that he KNOWS I'll love. Like the ladder climbing dwarf (one of the seven dwarves) to put on one of my potted plants. Way better than a garden gnome! Don't get me wrong, I love garden gnomes, and am still searching for the best one. I mean, there are just too many to choose from!
The other wonderful thing about C~ (and yes I know I'm gushing) is that when he told me that it's a possibility that we may not be able to find a house to rent where they will allow us to have a greyhound, then we can get a cat. I couldn't believe it! This is the man that thinks all cats are evil! So, I've been looking through the RSPCA website here in Queensland to see if there are any older or possibly disabled homeless cats. Yes, I do intend to adopt an older or needy cat or dog. That is why I am looking at retired greyhounds and the RSPCA. I wouldn't mind at all caring for and giving a good home to the neediest animals I can find.
I honestly have no idea WHY I feel compelled to do this. I think it's because I know how it feels to be unloved, cast out, and even though I'm not an invalid, I do know how it feels to be disabled (even if it was only a temporary thing). I want and desperately need to do something, and now Iam going to be in a position to actually do what I've always wanted - work with a rescue organisation. Once we have moved and have our schedule in a bit of order, as if that will ever be totally done lol. Anyway, I've always wanted to be able to work with animal rescue...I have rescued and adopted out many animals on my own. But here, there are so many needy animals, not just dogs and cats....but even guinea pigs, budgies, wounded koalas, and kangaroos. SO MANY in need. I just have to do something!
Picture credits: Kangaroo Rescue, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Oy vey, it's almost Christmas and I'm too full to move....
What on earth ever possessed me to each so much potato salad? Well, it's my Mama's recipe and for the record, today marks the umpteenth time I've attempted to copy it and I finally got it right!
Oh yeah, it's one of those put a little of this, eyeball this much mayo and mustard, take off all your jewellery and dig in with your hands to mix completely kind of potato salad recipes. WOOT! I SO ROCK!
My Mama makes the best potato salad in the world! Seriously! If you want the recipe, email me and I'll send the list of ingredients, vecause that is all one needs, oh and putting it together in the correct order, I swear that's what makes it taste so good. How does THAT work?
I'm a firm believer in the order of things in life. For instance, when you make a sandwich at home, one layers from bottom to top in this order : meat, cheese (optional), lettuce, tomato, other salad type ingredients. When one goes to a Subway, for instance, they now put all salad type ingredients on the bottom, mayo in the middle, then meat on the top. People tell me to just turn the bread upside down. Have you ever noticed that the seasonings on the Subway bread are on THE TOP? Well, then the meat should go on the farkin BOTTOM!!!! It does NOT taste the same. Trust me. Make 2 sandwiches, one with the way I told you to make as above, then make another as they make in all the sandwich shops now....then taste. See what I mean?
When corporations started years ago to change the way hamburgers, subs, and other sandwiches were made, they changed the order of the universe. Now we are reaping what they have sown. Our Universe is screwed up!!! Global warming happened, polar caps are melting, Hurricanes destroyed our planets most famous city (and my personal favorite, New Orleans), and people wonder why. Well, call me a conspiracy theorist if you like, but it all goes back to the upside down sandwich.
Oh yeah, it's one of those put a little of this, eyeball this much mayo and mustard, take off all your jewellery and dig in with your hands to mix completely kind of potato salad recipes. WOOT! I SO ROCK!
My Mama makes the best potato salad in the world! Seriously! If you want the recipe, email me and I'll send the list of ingredients, vecause that is all one needs, oh and putting it together in the correct order, I swear that's what makes it taste so good. How does THAT work?
I'm a firm believer in the order of things in life. For instance, when you make a sandwich at home, one layers from bottom to top in this order : meat, cheese (optional), lettuce, tomato, other salad type ingredients. When one goes to a Subway, for instance, they now put all salad type ingredients on the bottom, mayo in the middle, then meat on the top. People tell me to just turn the bread upside down. Have you ever noticed that the seasonings on the Subway bread are on THE TOP? Well, then the meat should go on the farkin BOTTOM!!!! It does NOT taste the same. Trust me. Make 2 sandwiches, one with the way I told you to make as above, then make another as they make in all the sandwich shops now....then taste. See what I mean?
When corporations started years ago to change the way hamburgers, subs, and other sandwiches were made, they changed the order of the universe. Now we are reaping what they have sown. Our Universe is screwed up!!! Global warming happened, polar caps are melting, Hurricanes destroyed our planets most famous city (and my personal favorite, New Orleans), and people wonder why. Well, call me a conspiracy theorist if you like, but it all goes back to the upside down sandwich.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Letters from Bad Santa
Letters from Bad Santa:
(I purloined this list from YDU - thanks Tori - I thought it was just too cute to pass up)
(I purloined this list from YDU - thanks Tori - I thought it was just too cute to pass up)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
deer santa,
I wud like a kool toy space ranjur fer Xmas. Iv ben a gud boy all yeer.
Yer Frend,
BiLLy
Dear Billy,
Nice spelling. You're on your way to a career in lawn care. How about I
send you a frigging book so you can learn to read and write? I'm giving
your older brother the space ranger. At least HE can spell!
Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,
I have been a good girl all year, and the only thing I ask for is peace
and joy in the world for everybody!
Love,
Sarah
Dear Sarah,
Your parents smoked pot when they had you, didn't they?
Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,
I don't know if you can do this, but for Christmas, I'd like for my
mommy and daddy to get back together. Please see what you can do.
Love,
Teddy
Dear Teddy,
Look - your dad's banging the babysitter like a screen door in a
hurricane.
Do you think he's gonna give that up to come back to your frigid, fat
mom, who rides his ass constantly? It's time to give up that dream. Let
me get you some nice Legos instead. Maybe you can build yourself a
family with those?
Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,
I want a new bike, a Playstation, a train, some G.I. Joes, a dog, a
drum
kit, a pony and a tuba.
Love,
Francis
Dear Francis,
Who names their kid "Francis" nowadays? I bet you're gay.
Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,
I left milk and cookies for you under the tree, and I left carrots for
your reindeer outside the back door.
Love,
Susan
Dear Susan,
Milk gives me the shits and carrots make the deers fart in my face when
riding in the sleigh. You want to do me a favor? Two words - Jim Beam.
Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,
What do you do the other 364 days of the year? Are you busy making
toys?
Your friend,
Thomas
Dear Thomas,
All the toys are made by little kids like you in
give them a slice of bread as a Christmas bonus. I have a condo in
Vegas, where I spend most of my time making low-budget porno films. I
unwind by drinking myself silly and squeezing the asses of cocktail
waitresses while losing money at the craps table.
Santa
P.S. Tell your mom she got the part in Long Dong Claus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,
Do you see us when we're sleeping, do you really know when we're awake,
like in the song?
Love,
Jessica
Dear Jessica,
Are you really that gullible? Good luck in whatever you do. I'm
skipping
your house.
Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,
I really really want a puppy this year. Please please please PLEASE
PLEASE could I have one?
Timmy
Timmy,
That whiney begging shit may work with your folks, but that crap
doesn't
work with me. You're getting an ugly sweater again.
Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dearest Santa,
We don't have a chimney in our house, how do you get into our home?
Love,
Marky
Mark,
First, stop calling yourself "Marky", that's why you're getting your
ass
kicked at school. Second, you don't live in a house, you live in a
low-rent, ghetto apartment complex. Third, I get inside your pad just
like all the burglars do, through your bedroom window.
Sweet Dreams,
Santa
Is it Wednesday ALREADY?
Good GOD! It's Wednesday! How did that happen? Only 5 more days until Christmas! GACK!!!
What have I done to deserve this? I'm losing my mind, I swear I am! Somewhere up there, Someone is keeping score. I just know it. I can never seem to get ahead, in fact at this moment, I need to be getting a shower, getting ,y clothes ready, etc to go to work in 2 hours. Yeah, I'm working the ungodly hours of 11:15 to 8 pm. WTF? Then tomorrow is 7:30 am to 6:30 pm and Friday 7:30 to 4:30.
But then I have 2 weeks off for Christmas, YAY! Really gotta dash! More later...if I can stay awake lol.
What have I done to deserve this? I'm losing my mind, I swear I am! Somewhere up there, Someone is keeping score. I just know it. I can never seem to get ahead, in fact at this moment, I need to be getting a shower, getting ,y clothes ready, etc to go to work in 2 hours. Yeah, I'm working the ungodly hours of 11:15 to 8 pm. WTF? Then tomorrow is 7:30 am to 6:30 pm and Friday 7:30 to 4:30.
But then I have 2 weeks off for Christmas, YAY! Really gotta dash! More later...if I can stay awake lol.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Random and Scattered Thoughts
This week has been extremely busy, hence the random, scattered thoughts I'm having. On Friday evening, while I was out for a walk, I saw a Koala for the first time ever in the wild. When I say in the wild, I mean in my local park where I walk pretty much every day. I was just walking along and awakened from my quietude by a rustling in the leaves off to my right and I saw what looked like either a rabbit or something oddly grey and furry kind of hopping along. I stopped to investigate and was rewarded with an amazing sight...a koala slowly climbing a tree and staring stright at me! WOW! How cool! How lucky am I?
So far, I have seen a Goanna which made it's home under the cement walkway through the park until recently. I haven't seen him in a couple of weeks, so I assume that he's found a better home. There is also a family of Kookaburras and many Galahs, as well as, Cockatoos. The last link has most Australian birds pictured there, and there are quite a few of them.
It's just amazing being here with the myriad of wildlife that I see all the time, or at least know is out there to be seen. Kangaroos do roam the country, though the only one I have seen in the wild had been, unfortunately, killed by a car. In this part of Queensland we generally have Grey Kangaroos. The big Red ones live out west. Kangaroos are mostly seen as pests and many people eat the meat of culled 'roos. We even have dingoes running around here but I have only seen 2 in a zoo. I didn't even get lucky enough to see one on Fraser Island where they promote dingo sightings as a tourist attraction.
Last night was C~'s uni graduation ceremony. Good grief was I tired! I started my new job last week, but this week I worked full-time, finishing up the 45 hours or so at 12:30 Saturday afternoon. So, I got home, rested a bit then got ready to leave home about 4:30 to arrive 2 hours early for the ceremony, as C~ needed to be there to pick up his robe & cap, and have pictures taken beforehand. It lasted until about 8:30 and by the time we got home we were both exhausted and irritable and didn't want to do anything but sleep...well, sort of lol. We put Clerks 2 on and I fell asleep about half an hour into it and managed to sleep until 8:30 this morning. I'm still not entirely awake and it's after lunch. I don't need coffee I need about 4 or 5 more hours of sleep. Think I'm going to take a nap.
Yep, that's what I'm going to do...nap and sorta watch The Cricket. The Aussies are gonna win The Ashes back from England this year, I just know it! I know, I know....how could I possibly like Cricket, excuse me THE Cricket *wink* as everyone calls it. It's a long and many times boring game, slower than baseball and about as fast as golf. The Test Matches last (on average) 5 days, and then there are the One Dayers and Day/Nighters, but the most exciting are the 20/20 matches which last about 3 hours and very, very fast and exciting. I don't know how I got hooked on it, I just did. I can't explain it so I won't even try. Yeah, I'm still an American Football fan, but American Football is only played on ESPN on Foxtel here in Australia and the games that are shown are the choice of whomever chooses the programs for that channel. So one week I might get to see the Colts and the next it might be The Saints, there's no rhyme or reason to it. Also, the bad thing is that the games are shown in real time which means they're on tv at about 10 am here...and I'm generally working, so I can't really keep up with who's doing what.
Time for a nap, 'nuff said.
Friday, December 15, 2006
I've been Tagged
Okey dokey Miss Misery, you little shit *pokes tongue out* You tagged me! I swear I won't kill you. at least not in THIS lifetime lol. So, I have to name six weird things about myself. *Sigh*
I'm weird? Really? Damn, and I thought no one noticed *snicker*. Ok ok, I'll give it a go.
Honestly, this is a hard one grrrr. Who decides if it's weird or not? Like montchan said, "So, who decides what is weird, and what is not? Is there some kind of a supreme God of Weirdness that shuffles his/her/its feet and puff [sic], just like that the Weird happens?"
1. I am now having a hard time with plain old English. I think this is because I live in a country that does speak English, just differently from where I grew up (South Carolina, USA). The words used in daily life are different in that they are pronounced differently, the words I use at work (dentistry) can be different as in describing types of words....like Q-Tip, no one knows wtf a Q-Tip is here, they call them cotton buds. Salivary I pronounce sal'-uh-very, aussies pronounce it suh-LIVE-ery. and Urine rhymes with Iodine instead of Cure 'em. Anywho, consequently, I am at a constant loss for words and having difficulty with recall, I feel like I'm getting early Alzheimer's Disease or something.
2. I find geeks and geekiness extremely sexy. C~ is an incredible geek with a mind like a steel trap....not to mention, geeks are great at sex, that's because they think about it all the time (or so they said in some 80's movie like Porky's...or one of those like it).
3. I love to cook. I take great pride in my cooking abilities and I find it hard to accept when I ask someone "how did you like it?" and they give some answer like, "it was fine", or ok, or something non-commital like that. I taught myself to cook, basically, with a little help from my Granny and lots of recipe books, bugging friends and family for recipes of food I liked, etc. It drives me insane that C~ doesn't particularly like my cooking (it's not aussie) and He's also a pretty picky eater and hates most veggies.
4. I'm am totally contradictory in nature. I'm selfish, yet extremely generous. I'm a bitch but sweet, too. I love food, but don't like sweets all that much...gimme mashed potatoes and gravy anyday over pies or cakes or chocolates. I need to be around people but will ignore everyone. I am sappily sentimental but have gotten rid of most everything (that others might keep) from my previous relationships. I remember my ex-husband fondly at times, hate him at others, and wonder why the hell I even bother to think about the womanizing, abusive, alcoholic creature that he was when we were married? I also wonder why the hell he could be so damn nice to everyone else but me. Some days he could be the greatest person to be around, but then he'd treat me like shit for some imagined slight (lasting for days on end).
I don't know what else to say. The above comments got me sidetracked, as I tend to type while thinking so my mind wanders a bit.
5. I like most types of music. I love opera, pop, Top 40, a bit of jazz (not acid jazz though), rock, classical, ambient, and whatever Enya, Enigma, Loreena McKennit, and Sarah MacLachlan fall into. I even like a bit of Marilyn Manson (mostly the remakes like Sweet Dreams and Tainted Love).
6. Basically, I'm insecure and scared I'm never going to be good enough.
There, I've done it, listed weird things and bared some of my deepest secrets. Whew, that wasn't so bad....or was it?
I'm weird? Really? Damn, and I thought no one noticed *snicker*. Ok ok, I'll give it a go.
Honestly, this is a hard one grrrr. Who decides if it's weird or not? Like montchan said, "So, who decides what is weird, and what is not? Is there some kind of a supreme God of Weirdness that shuffles his/her/its feet and puff [sic], just like that the Weird happens?"
1. I am now having a hard time with plain old English. I think this is because I live in a country that does speak English, just differently from where I grew up (South Carolina, USA). The words used in daily life are different in that they are pronounced differently, the words I use at work (dentistry) can be different as in describing types of words....like Q-Tip, no one knows wtf a Q-Tip is here, they call them cotton buds. Salivary I pronounce sal'-uh-very, aussies pronounce it suh-LIVE-ery. and Urine rhymes with Iodine instead of Cure 'em. Anywho, consequently, I am at a constant loss for words and having difficulty with recall, I feel like I'm getting early Alzheimer's Disease or something.
2. I find geeks and geekiness extremely sexy. C~ is an incredible geek with a mind like a steel trap....not to mention, geeks are great at sex, that's because they think about it all the time (or so they said in some 80's movie like Porky's...or one of those like it).
3. I love to cook. I take great pride in my cooking abilities and I find it hard to accept when I ask someone "how did you like it?" and they give some answer like, "it was fine", or ok, or something non-commital like that. I taught myself to cook, basically, with a little help from my Granny and lots of recipe books, bugging friends and family for recipes of food I liked, etc. It drives me insane that C~ doesn't particularly like my cooking (it's not aussie) and He's also a pretty picky eater and hates most veggies.
4. I'm am totally contradictory in nature. I'm selfish, yet extremely generous. I'm a bitch but sweet, too. I love food, but don't like sweets all that much...gimme mashed potatoes and gravy anyday over pies or cakes or chocolates. I need to be around people but will ignore everyone. I am sappily sentimental but have gotten rid of most everything (that others might keep) from my previous relationships. I remember my ex-husband fondly at times, hate him at others, and wonder why the hell I even bother to think about the womanizing, abusive, alcoholic creature that he was when we were married? I also wonder why the hell he could be so damn nice to everyone else but me. Some days he could be the greatest person to be around, but then he'd treat me like shit for some imagined slight (lasting for days on end).
I don't know what else to say. The above comments got me sidetracked, as I tend to type while thinking so my mind wanders a bit.
5. I like most types of music. I love opera, pop, Top 40, a bit of jazz (not acid jazz though), rock, classical, ambient, and whatever Enya, Enigma, Loreena McKennit, and Sarah MacLachlan fall into. I even like a bit of Marilyn Manson (mostly the remakes like Sweet Dreams and Tainted Love).
6. Basically, I'm insecure and scared I'm never going to be good enough.
There, I've done it, listed weird things and bared some of my deepest secrets. Whew, that wasn't so bad....or was it?
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Turtles, turtles, and more turtles
Yes, Gen, I was able to get so close that when she was flipping sand back over her nest it got all over me! I was standing all of about 4 feet from her while she did her thing...it was cool, will chat about it more later, but thought I'd answer that question. Here is the link so you can see where we went, stayed, and what we saw. Mon Repos Rookery. More Facts. Enjoy!
Monday, December 11, 2006
Back from seeing turtles
Good gawd turtles can be slow about this egg laying thing! Yep, got in a couple hours ago from Bundaberg and I'm thoroughly exhausted, but I wanted to tell everyone how TOTALLY cool it was to watch this incredible beautiful Loggerhad Turtle make her nest, lay her hundred or so eggs and cover them up...and she is probably a very old turtle, as she was tagged at the Mon Repos Rookery 25 years ago. SO she is AT LEAST in her mid 50's but probably far older.
A Fast turtle takes about an hour to make her way up to the dunes, dig the nest, lay eggs, cover and pack down the sand and make her way back down to the water. Our turtle took from 9 pm until 1 am to do all of this. She was also missing part of the rear of her shell, as well as, her back left flipper portion of her leg - most likely from a boat motor, we were told.
We had a great weekend, ate entirely too much, took a bit of video and a few stills. Hopefully, C~ can get the stills up on my computer in the next couple of days and I can post some. Until then, I'm going to sleep like the dead (at least until 5 am in the morning) when I have to get up for work. So I'm going. Ya'll take care and I promise to write more when I'm not so delerious from lack of sleep.
A Fast turtle takes about an hour to make her way up to the dunes, dig the nest, lay eggs, cover and pack down the sand and make her way back down to the water. Our turtle took from 9 pm until 1 am to do all of this. She was also missing part of the rear of her shell, as well as, her back left flipper portion of her leg - most likely from a boat motor, we were told.
We had a great weekend, ate entirely too much, took a bit of video and a few stills. Hopefully, C~ can get the stills up on my computer in the next couple of days and I can post some. Until then, I'm going to sleep like the dead (at least until 5 am in the morning) when I have to get up for work. So I'm going. Ya'll take care and I promise to write more when I'm not so delerious from lack of sleep.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz....
Ok, so we're not really off to see a wizard....at least I don't think so, but we are in Oz - does that count? *grin* Har dee farkin har har har, I crack myself up.
So, this week, I started my new job and it's pretty cool. I really, really like it and they like me too. Yowza! It's so nice to be liked. I've been looking high and low for this job, or at least a job just like this, for a very long time and I found it....and THEY LIKE ME! THEY REALLY LIKE ME! It was so fantastic to come home last night and tonight being happy and glad not only to have a job, but THIS job. So far so good ***fingers crossed***.
Also, tonight was our Christmas party, I was too late to get in on the secret santa, but that's ok, New Boss took us all out for dinner & drinks at a nearby pub .... and yes it was very good food... excellent steak and shrimp, the steak may have been plain & totally without seasonings (like all Aussie restaurant steaks), but it was spruced up with a nice Diane sauce, and I added a dash of salt & pepper after I got it. It was topped off with grilled prawns (shrimp) in a creamy garlic sauce, accompanied by a wonderful salad with vinaigrette dressing, and the ubiquitous, but totally tasty, not to mention beautifully presented omni present serve of chips. All washed down with a nice, refreshingly cold, glass of Riesling that looked like liquid sunshine in that sparkling bit of crystal. But, I digress. I was going to tell you about this weekend.
Ahhhhh, the weekend! It's our first anniversary....wedding anniversary to clear up any confusion. We are going to Bundaberg for the weekend and staying at Dunelm B&B while we are there. The main reason we are going to Bundy is to see the turtles nesting, which is something I've been wanting to do my whole life, and especially since I saw Finding Nemo.
Penny & Dave are the proprietors of Dunelm, a lovely English/Aussie couple that moved up north to fulfill a lifelong dream and were lucky enough to find a highly recommended B&B for sale, promptly bought it and set about making it all the more wonderful with their lovely charming presence. I look forward to seeing them again, taking a dip in the pool, and cooking something nice on the barbie.
As for other things, I also look forward to meeting a member of my yahoo group for Americans that live here in Oz....she and her aussie hubby live near Bundaberg. I am hoping we can at least arrange a lunch or something. Oh yeah! We also bought ourselves a dvd camcorder (an early Christmas present to us) so we could tape the turtles, as well as, us lolly gagging around the beach, etc....ya never know, I could find myself on Australia's Funniest Home Videos! Gawd, I hope not!
Well, anyway, I need to run or at least crawl into bed as it's nearing 1 am and I've been up since 5 am, worked all day, went to a Christmas party, came home and finished packing for tomorrow and must be up by 5 again. C~ says we MUST leave no later than 6 am what the FARKing hell is he thinking? Hrmmmm, maybe Macca's (McDonald's to the rest of the world) is having Egg McMuffins on sale....one can dream. On that note, I'm off to dreamland. See you all next week.
So, this week, I started my new job and it's pretty cool. I really, really like it and they like me too. Yowza! It's so nice to be liked. I've been looking high and low for this job, or at least a job just like this, for a very long time and I found it....and THEY LIKE ME! THEY REALLY LIKE ME! It was so fantastic to come home last night and tonight being happy and glad not only to have a job, but THIS job. So far so good ***fingers crossed***.
Also, tonight was our Christmas party, I was too late to get in on the secret santa, but that's ok, New Boss took us all out for dinner & drinks at a nearby pub .... and yes it was very good food... excellent steak and shrimp, the steak may have been plain & totally without seasonings (like all Aussie restaurant steaks), but it was spruced up with a nice Diane sauce, and I added a dash of salt & pepper after I got it. It was topped off with grilled prawns (shrimp) in a creamy garlic sauce, accompanied by a wonderful salad with vinaigrette dressing, and the ubiquitous, but totally tasty, not to mention beautifully presented omni present serve of chips. All washed down with a nice, refreshingly cold, glass of Riesling that looked like liquid sunshine in that sparkling bit of crystal. But, I digress. I was going to tell you about this weekend.
Ahhhhh, the weekend! It's our first anniversary....wedding anniversary to clear up any confusion. We are going to Bundaberg for the weekend and staying at Dunelm B&B while we are there. The main reason we are going to Bundy is to see the turtles nesting, which is something I've been wanting to do my whole life, and especially since I saw Finding Nemo.
Penny & Dave are the proprietors of Dunelm, a lovely English/Aussie couple that moved up north to fulfill a lifelong dream and were lucky enough to find a highly recommended B&B for sale, promptly bought it and set about making it all the more wonderful with their lovely charming presence. I look forward to seeing them again, taking a dip in the pool, and cooking something nice on the barbie.
As for other things, I also look forward to meeting a member of my yahoo group for Americans that live here in Oz....she and her aussie hubby live near Bundaberg. I am hoping we can at least arrange a lunch or something. Oh yeah! We also bought ourselves a dvd camcorder (an early Christmas present to us) so we could tape the turtles, as well as, us lolly gagging around the beach, etc....ya never know, I could find myself on Australia's Funniest Home Videos! Gawd, I hope not!
Well, anyway, I need to run or at least crawl into bed as it's nearing 1 am and I've been up since 5 am, worked all day, went to a Christmas party, came home and finished packing for tomorrow and must be up by 5 again. C~ says we MUST leave no later than 6 am what the FARKing hell is he thinking? Hrmmmm, maybe Macca's (McDonald's to the rest of the world) is having Egg McMuffins on sale....one can dream. On that note, I'm off to dreamland. See you all next week.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Hairstylists can occasionally do something wonderful
Yes, that's right, occasionally a hairstylist can do something wonderful. Like yesterday when Angie cut and coloured my hair. I actually like what she did, of course, did take a picture of what I wanted with me...and I haven't washed it and tried to style it myself yet either lmao! But, we shall see how it goes when I get ready for work a little later.
However, I am pleased with it. I have tried several stylists and colourists since I've been here and found that, for the most part, they are inexperienced, underpaid, and generally don't care, and also only want you to tell them EXACTLY what to do....as in how many foils (exactly, because they charge per foil), what exact colour, etc. It's enough to set ones teeth on edge! Sorry, but I guess that being an American I took for granted having a hairstylist that actually thinks for herself and knows what to do without having to be told every single little step. Oh, and the other thing is that she used a colour product called DeLorenzo....not the all pervasive Wella that everyone else uses here. Apparently DeLorenzo is designed to Aussie humidity and sun so it doesn't fade like Wella products do. It also didn't leave my hair feeling like straw, nor did it stain the heck out of my skin! Wella is horrible to get off facial skin...in fact it generally takes several days and hair washings to come off. Yep, can ya see it? All these aussie women walking around looking like they just came from the hairdresser's wearing a slight ring of colour aorund their faces and necks! It's totally hilarious, and no one bothers to complain about it! Like lemmings!
Okey dokey, off to breakfast and packing for the weekend.! Woohoo! It's our anniversary and we are going away to a B&B a bit north of here and gonna go watch the turtles nesting! We aren't leaving until Saturday so I still have a wee bit of time to get all packed and ready. Ta ta!!!
However, I am pleased with it. I have tried several stylists and colourists since I've been here and found that, for the most part, they are inexperienced, underpaid, and generally don't care, and also only want you to tell them EXACTLY what to do....as in how many foils (exactly, because they charge per foil), what exact colour, etc. It's enough to set ones teeth on edge! Sorry, but I guess that being an American I took for granted having a hairstylist that actually thinks for herself and knows what to do without having to be told every single little step. Oh, and the other thing is that she used a colour product called DeLorenzo....not the all pervasive Wella that everyone else uses here. Apparently DeLorenzo is designed to Aussie humidity and sun so it doesn't fade like Wella products do. It also didn't leave my hair feeling like straw, nor did it stain the heck out of my skin! Wella is horrible to get off facial skin...in fact it generally takes several days and hair washings to come off. Yep, can ya see it? All these aussie women walking around looking like they just came from the hairdresser's wearing a slight ring of colour aorund their faces and necks! It's totally hilarious, and no one bothers to complain about it! Like lemmings!
Okey dokey, off to breakfast and packing for the weekend.! Woohoo! It's our anniversary and we are going away to a B&B a bit north of here and gonna go watch the turtles nesting! We aren't leaving until Saturday so I still have a wee bit of time to get all packed and ready. Ta ta!!!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Miss Misery
I just wanted to introduce a new blogger that I found. She is a pretty cool teenager nicknamed Miss Misery. I hope my readers will like her :) As you know, I tend to spend most of my time reading blogs, not posting on my own...and occasionally I find something worth reading, and when I do, they stay on my list.
Wasted Daze
No, I'm not drunk lol. I'm in a daze from having wasted my day on a totally unbelievable interview. I waited a month to walk into an office and say hi, explain why I haven't gotten a job since I've been looking for 6 months, and also explain why I am not working as a dental hygienist. As if spending $4000 is a top priority at the moment when C~ graduates from Law School in a week. Ummm, I have MUCH more important things going on right now! Like finding a damn apartment or house to rent. Like going on a holiday this weekend for my first anniversary. Ok, yes it IS important that I eventually go back to work as a hygienist. But it's not THAT important to me. Money just isn't. Money is nice and all that, but honestly....it's the only reason why I would go back to it. It's a friggin boring as heck job, same shit hour after hour, day after day, with patients gettting this glazed look in their eyes when I explain the necessity of flossing. It's the same here as back in the good old US of A. Patients still don't give a damn about flossing, or even brushing all that much, for that matter...and they sure as heck don't need ME to tell them something that they've been hearing every six months for pretty much their entire lives and could not give a flying chili bean fart about me or what I have to say.
So, tell my why I would inflict that kind of pain upon myself anytime soon. Not to mention spend the afore mentioned sum of money required. Oh yes, I also have to take a written exam...which I've already taken, but failed....because when I wrote the essay portion of the exam out, I stated what an American Dental Hygienist would do to combat periodontal disease. I did not take into account that Aussie hygienists are not ALLOWED to do the things I was doing in America. So, for being honest and truthful, I was failed, since in the eyes of the test correctors I was wrong because I was not giving them the answer they wanted to hear. I apparently gave them the correct answers for what dentists are allowed to do. Ok, so tell my why I would want to practice in a place that won't let me do diddly squat? Except for the money, of course. Aussie hygienists are paid at more than double what I was making back home, even with the exchange rate. So yeah, I could make in 2 days what I make in 5 right now. There is that. I'm just so damn fed up with it right now. Yes I want to go back to it. Just not right now. But no one can see that. It's a boring job I did for 11 yrs and I'm not ready to go back to it. Oh yeah, and I don't want to spend another thousand dollars on a written exam I could possibly fail again. I don't like failing. It's not in me. I've never failed and it's done a real number on my ego. I graduated at the top of my class in high school and college. I made the second highest National Board score the year I graduated from college. I've been licensed to practice Dental Hygiene in 3 US states, 2 of them on merit alone...SC required that I take a clinical exam when I graduated, but when I moved back there a few years ago, they reinstated my license without question. But yes, after taking the written exam again, I have to wait 6 months to take a clinical exam on the other side of this country (which will take 4 days) and a return flight there, as well as 5 days accomodation, meals, and rental car.
I'm just severely annoyed at the moment. I have a job now. So far, after 1 day there, I like it. It looks promising. It's a lot of hours....38 in 4 days. 7:30 am - 6:30 pm T & TH , 1 - 8:30 pm Wed, 7:30 - 4:30 Fri, and every second Saturday from 8-12. It's a heck of a lot, and nights ugh. But everyone there seems nice enough, quite supportive and they actually want me to use my brain and my knowledge to get them up and running properly with their infection control program. Not to mention that they want me to try my hand at being a Treatment Planning Coordinator...fancy name for someone that presents treatment plan options to patients and gets a nice fat bonus for getting patients to accept the proposed treatment. I don't know how that will suit me, but we shall see. They also want me to be the Patient Coordinator, another fancy "management consulting firm name" for person that tells people where to be and when....keeping everyone rolling along all day in a smooth manner. It's a heck of a job to look forward to. Busy as heck...by the end of the next 6 months it is planned that there will be 4-5 dentists and 2 hygienists in this office. So that means a tremendous amount of support staff that I would be in charge of.
Question is....do I really want this? I don't honestly know. Do I think I can do it? I'm scared shitless that I want that kind of power. I'm scared I won't be able to deliver. I think that is what scares me most, that I may want that kind of power, that I may actually BE that ambitious and money hungry....no I don't think it's really the money, I think it's the power that is alluring, and I'm certainly not used to wanting power.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Microsoft
Oh boy! I must be in the bigtime now! Someone at THE Microsoft googled ME. Yep, got no clue how or WHY, but whatever floats their boat. I have to say that I was pretty surprised when I noticed. Yes, I AM addicted to sitemeter and would say that it is quite a useful blogtool. Especially when I wanna know if and when one of my friends or family logs onto my blog, I can tell...and they cannot lie and say they did read something when they didn't.
Luckily I have no haters of my blog so far. Not like montchan *snicker* she got 2 smacks from I talk 2 much. At least SHE has been reviewed, they haven't even bothered to so much as look at my blog, yet. I'm certain they will hate it with all the pink and long sidebar, etc. Not to mention long posts and nothing content of note. But that's ok, this is more for me than them. So, montchan, I hope Ms. Bitchy goes and picks up an ugly guy when she hits the bars this weekend and gets the clap, or some other nasty disease....perhaps a little syphilis will go a long way *evil grin*.
Luckily I have no haters of my blog so far. Not like montchan *snicker* she got 2 smacks from I talk 2 much. At least SHE has been reviewed, they haven't even bothered to so much as look at my blog, yet. I'm certain they will hate it with all the pink and long sidebar, etc. Not to mention long posts and nothing content of note. But that's ok, this is more for me than them. So, montchan, I hope Ms. Bitchy goes and picks up an ugly guy when she hits the bars this weekend and gets the clap, or some other nasty disease....perhaps a little syphilis will go a long way *evil grin*.
Greatest Movie I've ever seen....The Prestige
Oh yes, The Prestige is TRULY the most diabolical movie. Filled with incredible twists and turns, and guaranteed to give you the shivers.
Last night, C~ decided to take me to the movies. A notable event to be sure, since going to the movies over here in Oz can be a pretty expensive adventure. I was quite excited! hey I was going to see Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale in one movie. WOW!
But of course, some teenage girls decided they MUST ruin our movie watching "experience". Screw THAT, I thought as they sat throughout the beginning previews constantly chattering like magpies; and when the movie started, I nicely turned around and asked them to be quiet since the movie had started. They proceeded to make fun of the "old lady" in front of them. A few moments later, I asked nicely again for them to please be quiet so we could at least hear the movie. Oh no, they just twittered away making snide remarks.
So, I calmly got up even though I was fuming. I'm certain the steam could be seen coming out of my ears! I asked to see the manager and then explained to her what was going in and I expected that she would probably go in and tell them to be quiet. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! She hauled the entire row of gawking giggling girls OUT. I was dumbfounded! I guess she took my complaint pretty seriously, which I totally did not expect. Well, hopefully the teeny boppers will think twice about making fun of some other "old lady" again.
All I can say is that if you want to be thoroughly astounded at a movie, then go see The Prestige. It was great! Oh and here's a link for IMDB, but don't go there unless you wish to see a bit of a spoiler!
Last night, C~ decided to take me to the movies. A notable event to be sure, since going to the movies over here in Oz can be a pretty expensive adventure. I was quite excited! hey I was going to see Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale in one movie. WOW!
But of course, some teenage girls decided they MUST ruin our movie watching "experience". Screw THAT, I thought as they sat throughout the beginning previews constantly chattering like magpies; and when the movie started, I nicely turned around and asked them to be quiet since the movie had started. They proceeded to make fun of the "old lady" in front of them. A few moments later, I asked nicely again for them to please be quiet so we could at least hear the movie. Oh no, they just twittered away making snide remarks.
So, I calmly got up even though I was fuming. I'm certain the steam could be seen coming out of my ears! I asked to see the manager and then explained to her what was going in and I expected that she would probably go in and tell them to be quiet. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! She hauled the entire row of gawking giggling girls OUT. I was dumbfounded! I guess she took my complaint pretty seriously, which I totally did not expect. Well, hopefully the teeny boppers will think twice about making fun of some other "old lady" again.
All I can say is that if you want to be thoroughly astounded at a movie, then go see The Prestige. It was great! Oh and here's a link for IMDB, but don't go there unless you wish to see a bit of a spoiler!
Friday, December 01, 2006
Men with Cramps...
ooooooooooo kay. Why did I bring this up? Probably because I have cramps too. Also because When I opened the page of my yahoo group an ad was at the top and although I generally never click on ads, this one just begged me to. I'm guessing this is some kind of sick joke. At least I hope it is. But I really do NOT need to know how Men With Cramps shaped our history. Someone is playing a sick joke on the poor unsuspecting women of this world.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
The Thanksgiving aftermath
Oh yes, there was an aftermath, and I suffered greatly! Oh MY! I had an interview on Monday morning at 7:30 and didn't think I was going to make it. Thank God I'd showered and washed my hair Sunday night after all the rellies left. I could barely see straight. My feet are still killing me. Egads, even my hands hurt.
I cooked from 9:30 am Sunday morning until 6:30 pm Sunday night when the first guest arrived. There were orignally supposed to be 12, but ended up being 10, which seemed somewhat more manageable, though it truly didn't make any difference, except in how many leftovers there were.
I think it was a hit, the only thing not really eaten was the salad, But that's okey dokey. The FIL hit the leftover mashed potatoes and dressing like he'd been in jail and starving for the last 10 years. I counted 3 completely full SKILLETS! about 2 inches deep that he ate within the course of one day...Don't ask me why he didn't use the microwave. Ah well they were meant to be eaten.
The best part though was the broken airconditioning! Yep. I cooked all day with only a couple of fans and the windows all open, with the outside temp about 80 degrees with around 75% humidity. Can you imagine what it felt like inside the kitchen? That's why we had dinner after dark, so it would at least be cool enough to sit and eat a hot meal.
I was really surprised at how good I did, though. This was the first time I'd ever made cornbread dressing, and I had to make my own "poultry seasoning" to use in it. Honestly, it was great, still not as good as my mom's but still quite edible. C~ wanted some with apples in it cuz he thought they would be good, I dunno because I didn't bother to taste it. But lots of people ate it. So I'd made 1 large batch and 1 small one for C~. I even toasted and caramelised some pecans with the apples for it...nice touch *grin*. I only wish i'd picked up some chestnuts instead when I saw them on sale last week. It's been ages since I've had sage & chestnut stuffing.
....And speaking of food, it's time for a turkey sandwich for supper. So, until next time when I have something infintely more interesting to write....here's sending you some mashed potato wishes and turkey filled dreams.
I cooked from 9:30 am Sunday morning until 6:30 pm Sunday night when the first guest arrived. There were orignally supposed to be 12, but ended up being 10, which seemed somewhat more manageable, though it truly didn't make any difference, except in how many leftovers there were.
I think it was a hit, the only thing not really eaten was the salad, But that's okey dokey. The FIL hit the leftover mashed potatoes and dressing like he'd been in jail and starving for the last 10 years. I counted 3 completely full SKILLETS! about 2 inches deep that he ate within the course of one day...Don't ask me why he didn't use the microwave. Ah well they were meant to be eaten.
The best part though was the broken airconditioning! Yep. I cooked all day with only a couple of fans and the windows all open, with the outside temp about 80 degrees with around 75% humidity. Can you imagine what it felt like inside the kitchen? That's why we had dinner after dark, so it would at least be cool enough to sit and eat a hot meal.
I was really surprised at how good I did, though. This was the first time I'd ever made cornbread dressing, and I had to make my own "poultry seasoning" to use in it. Honestly, it was great, still not as good as my mom's but still quite edible. C~ wanted some with apples in it cuz he thought they would be good, I dunno because I didn't bother to taste it. But lots of people ate it. So I'd made 1 large batch and 1 small one for C~. I even toasted and caramelised some pecans with the apples for it...nice touch *grin*. I only wish i'd picked up some chestnuts instead when I saw them on sale last week. It's been ages since I've had sage & chestnut stuffing.
....And speaking of food, it's time for a turkey sandwich for supper. So, until next time when I have something infintely more interesting to write....here's sending you some mashed potato wishes and turkey filled dreams.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
This is gonna be me tomorrow night
I just LOVE this photo, not only is it of a grey cat, but it looks just like my old cat Harry...the one that went to live with my ex. Anyway, this is what I'm going to look like once I'm done feeding 12 people Thanksgiving Dinner. Talk to ya next week.
An apology
I have to apologise for what must have seemed a big bash on Foot Locker. It wasn't what I meant at all. My experience yesterday just typified local customer service that I have been subjected to, and I happened to write about that experience. I was simply surprised that a company would allow that behaviour. Perhaps I'm just digging myself in a hole by going on. I'm truly sorry if it seemed that I was singly that company out. I wasn't. It just happened that I was irritated and it prompted me to go on and write.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Foraging for new shoes at Foot Locker
One would THINK that an American chain (like Foot Locker) would have somewhat decent customer service. Not so here in Brisbane! I had a 30% off coupon for anything in the store. I went looking for tennis shoes, which I desperately needed. What I got was a surly teenager that could not seem to understand that when I pointed to a shoe and asked if he had that in my size, what I wanted was an answer of Yes, No, or I'll go check....plus If they had it, I wanted to try it on.
Considering they also had a special on certain shoes that combined 2 for $120, and I could also use the coupon, that made it doubly important to find something. Hey money is tight right now with Christmas coming up. I wear only 2 brands, Nike or Reebok. PERIOD! I do not want to be shown New Balance or Pumas or Addidas. I explained this to the young man. I wear only Nike and Reebok, I told him...nicely even. What did he bring me? New Balance. Why? Because they were out of my size, guess what he THEN brought me? The pair I'd picked out, but in a size 11! WTF? I wear a USA Size 10. Nope, I do not have little feet, but I wear a 10, not an 11. Why oh why did he even BOTHER bringing me a size 11?
It gets better. C~ picked out 6 pairs to see if they had them in his size. 2 were shown to him, one of which was NOT the pair he'd picked out because the salesgirl didn't like the colour, and thought perhaps they might be a little narrow! Excuse me, but shouldn't the customer decide if a damn shoe fits or not? That pair of shoes (the ones that the salesgirl liked) were $200 pair of tennis shoes. Sorry, but not on my current budget, dear. It was SO frustrating, just to pick out 2 friggin pairs of shoes. Ok, I admit it, I got a good deal. A $119.00 pair of Nike leather tennis shoes (white with Pink swoosh logo *grin*), AND a pair of white little flats that look like a pair of Nike mary janes *grin*, they are too cute and were priced at $69, but I got both for $84.
Yep, a very good deal. BUT what I had to put up with! I can't believe that they didn't bother to offer calling another of their local stores to see if they had the shoes we really wanted in stock. Back home they would have done that. They would have offered, I would NOT have had to ask. I didn't ask, btw. C~ was way too pissed off by that time, he just wanted to get the hell out of there. I really do miss American style customer service where they bend over backwards for you because they KNOW you can shop elsewhere and will tell people. Here they just don't give a damn. Why should they? They are getting paid $15 per hour to do nothing but look good in their store uniforms, they probably don't get commission, and certainly do NOT give a rat's ass about the customers. But all customer service here sucks like that, why am I so surprised?
Considering they also had a special on certain shoes that combined 2 for $120, and I could also use the coupon, that made it doubly important to find something. Hey money is tight right now with Christmas coming up. I wear only 2 brands, Nike or Reebok. PERIOD! I do not want to be shown New Balance or Pumas or Addidas. I explained this to the young man. I wear only Nike and Reebok, I told him...nicely even. What did he bring me? New Balance. Why? Because they were out of my size, guess what he THEN brought me? The pair I'd picked out, but in a size 11! WTF? I wear a USA Size 10. Nope, I do not have little feet, but I wear a 10, not an 11. Why oh why did he even BOTHER bringing me a size 11?
It gets better. C~ picked out 6 pairs to see if they had them in his size. 2 were shown to him, one of which was NOT the pair he'd picked out because the salesgirl didn't like the colour, and thought perhaps they might be a little narrow! Excuse me, but shouldn't the customer decide if a damn shoe fits or not? That pair of shoes (the ones that the salesgirl liked) were $200 pair of tennis shoes. Sorry, but not on my current budget, dear. It was SO frustrating, just to pick out 2 friggin pairs of shoes. Ok, I admit it, I got a good deal. A $119.00 pair of Nike leather tennis shoes (white with Pink swoosh logo *grin*), AND a pair of white little flats that look like a pair of Nike mary janes *grin*, they are too cute and were priced at $69, but I got both for $84.
Yep, a very good deal. BUT what I had to put up with! I can't believe that they didn't bother to offer calling another of their local stores to see if they had the shoes we really wanted in stock. Back home they would have done that. They would have offered, I would NOT have had to ask. I didn't ask, btw. C~ was way too pissed off by that time, he just wanted to get the hell out of there. I really do miss American style customer service where they bend over backwards for you because they KNOW you can shop elsewhere and will tell people. Here they just don't give a damn. Why should they? They are getting paid $15 per hour to do nothing but look good in their store uniforms, they probably don't get commission, and certainly do NOT give a rat's ass about the customers. But all customer service here sucks like that, why am I so surprised?
Thursday, November 23, 2006
The crazy things people google...
...Oh yes, people do some crazy googling during their days (or nights). I have become addicted to sitemeter...THANKS MONTCHAN! I found that someone found me by googling hairy lebanese women wtf? 0.O
So far, the largest amounts have come from those looking for a Tomato Pie Recipe, an occasional search for merkins, and waxing tips, roflmao! Of course, if you use site meter, you know it doesn't show the exact location of a person, just the nearest city. Mostly I've been checking it to see if any of my family has checked out my site. Once my mom did, but that was only for a few seconds...I think it was because I told her if she read my blog then she wasn't allowed to get upset by anything she read lol...because I do occasionally write about the dysfunctional wasy I grew up so now everyone knows just how fucked up I really am *snicker*
Oh , I decided to post a couple of other cute kitty pics too...just 'cuz I can :)
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Lovely Pictures
I just love these two pictures, I found them on a couple of different sites, but have no idea where... so I can't give the person that did them proper credit....but it wasn't me. I just wanted to share. The one with the flower I like because it make me feel so peaceful, the cat I love because I love cats...it also makes me think of montchan for some reason, too. Now why is that?
I am an evil person...
...or didn't you know that already? Actually, I'm not totally evil I just have an odd sense of humour. I can be wicked at times, I can even be a bitch, but generally I'm your normal (whatever that means), average person. I have my moods. I can be caustic and mean, though I generally do NOT try to be mean. I'm not one of those people with a perpetual smile on my face. Life ain't all that good, sheesh, even nuns don't smile all the time. Well, I did know this priest once, who always smiled...
Seriously, his name is Father Tommy (from Ireland) and last I heard was living in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with a huge parish and had the highest number of adult Catholic converts in that area. He was the kind of priest that would tell people they didn't have to fast per se, but maybe eat soup instead. Or he would say that for Lent, instead of giving up something, why not give to others. Make a commitment to put a quarter in someones parking meter that had run out, so they wouldn't get a ticket. How cool is that? I found him truly inspiring.
I think I will try harder to be nicer to others in the future. I'm not saying it will work lol, but I will try.
Seriously, his name is Father Tommy (from Ireland) and last I heard was living in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with a huge parish and had the highest number of adult Catholic converts in that area. He was the kind of priest that would tell people they didn't have to fast per se, but maybe eat soup instead. Or he would say that for Lent, instead of giving up something, why not give to others. Make a commitment to put a quarter in someones parking meter that had run out, so they wouldn't get a ticket. How cool is that? I found him truly inspiring.
I think I will try harder to be nicer to others in the future. I'm not saying it will work lol, but I will try.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
I am seriously pissed
I have emailed sitemeter twice. It is still tracking how many people I have visiting my blog, but it will NOT let me log in to my account! DAMNIT, FARK FARK FARKIN HELL! Sheesh this is driving me crazy. Anyone else having this problem? When I try to log in, it just produces the login page once again. ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGG!
How about suggestions? I don't have a clue, as I just have the free version. I wanted to see what it would do before I anteed up and paid for a years subscription (C~ would have a shit fit). He hit the roof when I paid $60 for my classmates.com gold card or whatever it costs, because I wanted to get in touch with a few people from high school and couldn't without paying. So, for all that money I got a few email addys and 2 return emails. LMAO, shows how popular I was, huh? Oh yeah, I was the poor hand-me-down wearing geek that thought taking Spanish and French in high school would somehow make me more mysterious, therefore more date eligible. Hrmph, they always seemed to ask out my cousin, who of course later on in life admitted to being a lesbian, which you KNOW just made my day complete. Not only did the boys not want to date me, they would rather be turned down by my lesbian cousin. Will there be no end to my shame?
I mean, it's not as if I'm some farking dog. I am somewhat attractive, but somehow only to insane, perverted old men (not including C~). Perhaps it's because I never knew when to keep my mouth shut. I do have a tendency to point out shortcomings and failures *chuckle*. Imagine THAT on what some guy thinks is a hot date with me *evil grin*
How about suggestions? I don't have a clue, as I just have the free version. I wanted to see what it would do before I anteed up and paid for a years subscription (C~ would have a shit fit). He hit the roof when I paid $60 for my classmates.com gold card or whatever it costs, because I wanted to get in touch with a few people from high school and couldn't without paying. So, for all that money I got a few email addys and 2 return emails. LMAO, shows how popular I was, huh? Oh yeah, I was the poor hand-me-down wearing geek that thought taking Spanish and French in high school would somehow make me more mysterious, therefore more date eligible. Hrmph, they always seemed to ask out my cousin, who of course later on in life admitted to being a lesbian, which you KNOW just made my day complete. Not only did the boys not want to date me, they would rather be turned down by my lesbian cousin. Will there be no end to my shame?
I mean, it's not as if I'm some farking dog. I am somewhat attractive, but somehow only to insane, perverted old men (not including C~). Perhaps it's because I never knew when to keep my mouth shut. I do have a tendency to point out shortcomings and failures *chuckle*. Imagine THAT on what some guy thinks is a hot date with me *evil grin*
Why is life so irritating?
I expect too much. I must. Lately life has been coming up pits instead of cherries. Why is that? Have I somehow drawn the short straw in my sleep, or is it just my turn, or am I wearing a sign only visible to others that says "Please fuck with me!"?
I must go shopping to get C~ something for Christmas. I know it will never be as good as what he gets me, it never is. He is amazing when it comes to shopping and gift buying. He always buys incredible little things, doo-dads, and what nots, not to mention, he's even fairly good at picking out clothes. He can't dress himself for shit, but that's a whole 'nother story. This is why God invented women, I think, to keep men well dressed and smelling good...so then other women will try to steal them away. SHeesh, one would think we would learn? Hrmmmmm, perhaps I'll let C~ continue wearing grubby clothes *giggle*. I wrote something, I promised and I did it. There!
Th th th that's all folks!
I must go shopping to get C~ something for Christmas. I know it will never be as good as what he gets me, it never is. He is amazing when it comes to shopping and gift buying. He always buys incredible little things, doo-dads, and what nots, not to mention, he's even fairly good at picking out clothes. He can't dress himself for shit, but that's a whole 'nother story. This is why God invented women, I think, to keep men well dressed and smelling good...so then other women will try to steal them away. SHeesh, one would think we would learn? Hrmmmmm, perhaps I'll let C~ continue wearing grubby clothes *giggle*. I wrote something, I promised and I did it. There!
Th th th that's all folks!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Tomorrow, I PROMISE....
....I really really promise to write something substantial tomorrow. I haven't been abducted by aliens or anything. I just had an awful migraine last Tuesday night and ended up in hospital after getting a shot of something that was supposed to get rid of the headache, but instead made it much worse.
At the hospital they gave me Thorazine...uh huh uh huh.... yeah yeah, I know, an anti-psychotic, just wtf I needed *sticks tongue out*. That didn't work, so they FINALLY gave me some friggin morphine, which helped a teensy bit. Sent me home with a headache that was dulled somewhat by all the damn drugs. It took me a couple of days to recover from all that garbage in my system.
The weather has been atrocious here. Hot then cold, and back again... heck it even SNOWED about 50 miles south of Brisbane! What is that all about...it's November, which means it's Summer here and it snowed in many cities across southern Australia. I saw on tv footage in Melbourne where it looked like a foot of snow that the snowplows were pushing off to the side of the roads.
So anyway, I had a migraine that lasted a couple of days. Then I had to recover from the M.D. sanctioned "near over-dose" LOL. Oh yeah, I also had a CT scan, which turned out to be normal hehe....whatever "normal" is. So, I haven't even turned on the computer except to see if my sister has returned my email.
So, I promise to write something real and hopefully interesting tomorrow. Tonight, I'm just gonna watch an episode of House M.D. and veg.... ta ta until tomorrow.
At the hospital they gave me Thorazine...uh huh uh huh.... yeah yeah, I know, an anti-psychotic, just wtf I needed *sticks tongue out*. That didn't work, so they FINALLY gave me some friggin morphine, which helped a teensy bit. Sent me home with a headache that was dulled somewhat by all the damn drugs. It took me a couple of days to recover from all that garbage in my system.
The weather has been atrocious here. Hot then cold, and back again... heck it even SNOWED about 50 miles south of Brisbane! What is that all about...it's November, which means it's Summer here and it snowed in many cities across southern Australia. I saw on tv footage in Melbourne where it looked like a foot of snow that the snowplows were pushing off to the side of the roads.
So anyway, I had a migraine that lasted a couple of days. Then I had to recover from the M.D. sanctioned "near over-dose" LOL. Oh yeah, I also had a CT scan, which turned out to be normal hehe....whatever "normal" is. So, I haven't even turned on the computer except to see if my sister has returned my email.
So, I promise to write something real and hopefully interesting tomorrow. Tonight, I'm just gonna watch an episode of House M.D. and veg.... ta ta until tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
It's Tuesday.....
Wish I could say today has been a terribly exciting day, but nooooo I cannot. Today has pretty much been slow and boring. Oh well, the highlight of my day may either be the trip to Lifeline where I got a skirt, shorts, pants , and 2 tops for under $40, or the trip to the chiropractor in a couple hours, or it could even be that we are going to have take-out pizza tonight. Hrmmm. Hard decision, ain't it?
Why is it that some days are just boring as hell? Don't ask me, otherwise I could fix all the world's problems and be a go-zillionaire (sounds just like Bubba Gump, in my head). I am re-reading Low Country by Anne Rivers Siddons. Nothing spectacular there, just a good read....sure to pass the time away....
Why is it that some days are just boring as hell? Don't ask me, otherwise I could fix all the world's problems and be a go-zillionaire (sounds just like Bubba Gump, in my head). I am re-reading Low Country by Anne Rivers Siddons. Nothing spectacular there, just a good read....sure to pass the time away....
Sunday, November 12, 2006
"Lighting a firecracker in your ass, and other stupid things...."
Briton hurt after lighting firecracker in buttocks....is what I saw, what I thought was....no shit! I mean, come one, who WOULDN"T get hurt if they lit their own ass up with a firecracker? The next improbable headline was ...eunuchs start collecting taxes in India. HUH? Ok, so they have eunuchs collecting taxes, the funny thing is the reason they are using them, which is that they are supposedly very , very persuasive, and refuse to take no for an answer.
I wouldn't know, I have never met a eunuch. Of course, I've met plenty of men I'd like to turn into eunuchs, but that's a whole other story.
Ok, on to the story of how I burned my own bum with a firecracker.
At the ripe old age of 18, I was with a friend, and we were most likely drinking (NOT that I advocate drinking & driving) as we were also driving down the road. Actually it was I-126 aka Malfunction Junction. We were right about where that picture was taken, but on the other side of the road. Well, it was late at night, therefore very dark and I was dared to light a firecracker and throw it out onto the road...I don't remember the name of them, but when you lit them, they popped, but also spun around making all kinds of noise and turned different colours. I thought for a sec and then thought, "Cool, ok". No one was around, no cars....we were the only ones on the road that I could see.
So, I rolled my window down a bit and lit the first one.....tossed it out the window to watch it in the rearview mirror as it spun and changed colours as I drove away. OMG! I sooooo had to do that again. Grabbed another, lit it.....TOSS.....OH SHIT!!!!!!!!!! It hit the window, fell onto the car seat BETWEEN MY LEGS! I jumped (sort of) but when I lifted my butt up my legs bumped into the steering wheel and I sat....back....down.
Yes, I sat back down ON THE FIRECRACKER! Oh My Goodness!. Quickly pulling off to the side of the road, getting out of the car, my ass was ON FIRE! Oh God! It burned, oh hell, it hurt so bad. I got out of the car, poured some sort of cold liquid on my butt, and danced around like an Indian doing a rain dance for awhile until I calmed down enough to let my friend drive me home, where we proceeded to peel off my jeans (my fav pair btw) and had to get a pair of tweezers so she could pick the small remaining bits of jean material out of my butt. Tha's right, it burnt the material into my butt. We washed it and such, it wasn't a really bad burn, but I still have a very small scar to remind me what NOT to do with a firecracker. To this day, I have not gone very near them, preferring to only see them at special events where there are specialists whose job is to play with them.
So, there you have it....one of my most humiliating stories from being a stupid teenager. I swear, no matter how much money I could be offered, I'd never go back to being one of those pitiful creatures.
I wouldn't know, I have never met a eunuch. Of course, I've met plenty of men I'd like to turn into eunuchs, but that's a whole other story.
Ok, on to the story of how I burned my own bum with a firecracker.
At the ripe old age of 18, I was with a friend, and we were most likely drinking (NOT that I advocate drinking & driving) as we were also driving down the road. Actually it was I-126 aka Malfunction Junction. We were right about where that picture was taken, but on the other side of the road. Well, it was late at night, therefore very dark and I was dared to light a firecracker and throw it out onto the road...I don't remember the name of them, but when you lit them, they popped, but also spun around making all kinds of noise and turned different colours. I thought for a sec and then thought, "Cool, ok". No one was around, no cars....we were the only ones on the road that I could see.
So, I rolled my window down a bit and lit the first one.....tossed it out the window to watch it in the rearview mirror as it spun and changed colours as I drove away. OMG! I sooooo had to do that again. Grabbed another, lit it.....TOSS.....OH SHIT!!!!!!!!!! It hit the window, fell onto the car seat BETWEEN MY LEGS! I jumped (sort of) but when I lifted my butt up my legs bumped into the steering wheel and I sat....back....down.
Yes, I sat back down ON THE FIRECRACKER! Oh My Goodness!. Quickly pulling off to the side of the road, getting out of the car, my ass was ON FIRE! Oh God! It burned, oh hell, it hurt so bad. I got out of the car, poured some sort of cold liquid on my butt, and danced around like an Indian doing a rain dance for awhile until I calmed down enough to let my friend drive me home, where we proceeded to peel off my jeans (my fav pair btw) and had to get a pair of tweezers so she could pick the small remaining bits of jean material out of my butt. Tha's right, it burnt the material into my butt. We washed it and such, it wasn't a really bad burn, but I still have a very small scar to remind me what NOT to do with a firecracker. To this day, I have not gone very near them, preferring to only see them at special events where there are specialists whose job is to play with them.
So, there you have it....one of my most humiliating stories from being a stupid teenager. I swear, no matter how much money I could be offered, I'd never go back to being one of those pitiful creatures.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
No more comment verification
I have decided that there will be no more comment verification. Goodness gracious, but those letters are hard to read, and it was THE LAST STRAW when I had to verify my OWN comment 3 farken times. Uh huh, that's right....I said fark....fark, fark fark...so, no more stupid wierd letter semi-word combo for comment bearers. *grin* Hopefully this means more comments hehehe.
Friday, November 10, 2006
I don't like Posh Spice really....
...but David Beckham is certainly everything nice *wink wink*. I happened upon this Ali G video clip with Posh & Becks on it, totally funny. Poor Becks, to be married to that skinny minny. I mean...she has absolutely NO ASS, none atall! It's a shame really, have you ever heard his voice? A man THAT sexy should NOT sound like a Chav Mickey Mouse *snicker* . Truly a pity. Ok I could go on and on about how beautiful the guy is, he's not particularly smart from what I've seen, but man oh man can he play soccer....I mean football LOL!
Hope I haven't offended anyone that happens to love Becks voice, it's just my humble opinion. I'll just toddle off now to fix dinner with C~....see ya later....same bitch time, same bitch channel.
I'd rather be chewing nails....
You won't believe it...but they sell hair colour for down there . I didn't believe it either, until I saw it. I was reading Homesick Home blog and somehow *rolling eyes* ended up directed to THAT. ROFLMAO! The worst thing is, I think, that not only is it hot pink, but ummmm it's more expensive than hair colour for my head, which requires larger quantities.
This also reminds me of the Sex and the City episode where Samantha found a grey pubic hair and decided to colour it. This was, of course, after she decided to stop shaving to please her boyfriend. Hilariously enough, when she dyed it....or tried to dye it blonde to match her own dyed hair colour, it turned orange. Ok, So maybe I'm the only one that thinks this is a funny thing...
This also reminds me of the Sex and the City episode where Samantha found a grey pubic hair and decided to colour it. This was, of course, after she decided to stop shaving to please her boyfriend. Hilariously enough, when she dyed it....or tried to dye it blonde to match her own dyed hair colour, it turned orange. Ok, So maybe I'm the only one that thinks this is a funny thing...
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
A true Swede....
"a true Swede will never bark “shut the fuck up” at you. They will hoof and poof and endure, all the while imagining your bloodied corpse flying down from the mezzanine onto the floor below. "
(Yes, montchan, I stole that DIRECTLY off your blog! Tag, you have now been quoted! *kimmie does her happy dance* singing nananabooboo, stick your toes in poopoo...yes I'm done now.)
Weeeeeelllll now then, THAT must be where I get that from. Being part Swedish, of course. Have you ever wondered exactly why you do the things you do, the specific way that you do them? Occasionally I get the impulse to sit and examine my actions....and occasional thoughts, as well. Yes, I do occasionally have thoughts. Don't we all? Hrmm, perhaps not.
Anyway. The actions are what I was pondering. Some days I just want to scream "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" but don't. Some days, I do scream....usually it's a silent scream. Remember the silent scream of AL Pacino in The Godfather Part III? It's the scene where he is realising that his daughter is dead and he opens his mouth to scream but no sound comes out. THAT is what I'm talking about.
Sometimes I wonder what it is I'm continually fighting. Is it myself? It it some unseen force? Or have I just become so accustomed to fighting for what I need or want that I feel I still need to fight for it? C~ says I need to stop fighting. I want to. It's not like I pick fights...but I feel like I'm being attacked at times. Why do I do this? I just have no clue....
But I am sick and tired of holding things in. I'm going to start telling people where they can go jump. Yesterday, someone who shall remain nameless, actually thought I was running water in the kitchen sink just to let the water run...for no apparent reason...Oh yes, I do this ALL the time *snicker*, not! Honestly, this country has a serious drought problem, and some people think I have absolutely no regard for it, therefore I let water run...continuously, for no reason, I just get my kicks out of doing that to piss people off. WTF?!?
Like I said, I just want to scream.
(Yes, montchan, I stole that DIRECTLY off your blog! Tag, you have now been quoted! *kimmie does her happy dance* singing nananabooboo, stick your toes in poopoo...yes I'm done now.)
Weeeeeelllll now then, THAT must be where I get that from. Being part Swedish, of course. Have you ever wondered exactly why you do the things you do, the specific way that you do them? Occasionally I get the impulse to sit and examine my actions....and occasional thoughts, as well. Yes, I do occasionally have thoughts. Don't we all? Hrmm, perhaps not.
Anyway. The actions are what I was pondering. Some days I just want to scream "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" but don't. Some days, I do scream....usually it's a silent scream. Remember the silent scream of AL Pacino in The Godfather Part III? It's the scene where he is realising that his daughter is dead and he opens his mouth to scream but no sound comes out. THAT is what I'm talking about.
Sometimes I wonder what it is I'm continually fighting. Is it myself? It it some unseen force? Or have I just become so accustomed to fighting for what I need or want that I feel I still need to fight for it? C~ says I need to stop fighting. I want to. It's not like I pick fights...but I feel like I'm being attacked at times. Why do I do this? I just have no clue....
But I am sick and tired of holding things in. I'm going to start telling people where they can go jump. Yesterday, someone who shall remain nameless, actually thought I was running water in the kitchen sink just to let the water run...for no apparent reason...Oh yes, I do this ALL the time *snicker*, not! Honestly, this country has a serious drought problem, and some people think I have absolutely no regard for it, therefore I let water run...continuously, for no reason, I just get my kicks out of doing that to piss people off. WTF?!?
Like I said, I just want to scream.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Surgery Rocks...well, some do
Ok, update on the waxing. No, it did not go well, not well at all. Imagine, if you will, me freshly showered, powdered, exfoliated, all smelly good and stuff. C~ places a towel on the bed so I can get comfy as he hovers, telling me just which way will be best for HIM to commence spreading this sticky, green goo on my underarm. All set. Green goo smeared after a few drippy attempts. Pristine white cotton strip placed firmly and rubbed in the direction of hair growth (sort of, since underarm hair tends to grow a few different ways...at least on MY body). C~ hands me the little plastic spatula as he is ready to go.
Pulling my skin tautly, He shuts his eyes ands proceeds to RRRRRRrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiipppppp the cotton strip cleanly off my skin...very little pain, I might add. We look at the strip. No hair in eveidence. We look at my pit. ALL of the hair is still there. OH SHIT! IT's STILL THERE!!!! Ok, once more, we prepare, and try again. We must have done something wrong, not enough goo, didn't leave the strip in place long enough, put a bit more pressure on the strip.
RRRRRIiiiiiiiipppppp! No! Not again! Oh.MY.God. The hair is still there. My underarm is bright red, it burns, %&$*9@# hell that hurt the second time. Ok, deep breaths, I quietly run off to the bathroom and grab a warm wash cloth to get off all the sticky green goo. (Which does smell nice, btw.) Ok...we shall try again tomorrow, I say to C~. He smiled and patted me on the bum indulgently.
Saturday morning. I wash everything and dry it properly, convinced it didn't work because I'd tried it too soon after showering. So, all by myself, in the bathroom....lights ablazing, I went to work. Hrmmmm, how do I do this . I know, eyebrows first, see if that works, then move onto the underarm again. Eyebrows marked, goo slapped on carefully, cotton strip placed (I have waxed my own eyebrows before, so I know the procedure), rip went SOME of the hair. Ok, try again. To make a long story shorter, my eyebrows are uneven, it STILL didn't work on my underarm, so I've had to wear talcum powder all weekend instead of anti-perspirant. I managed to rip a few (note I did say few) hairs off my leg.
In other words, Nads does not work. Not for me anyway. Oh and I did leave the best part for last. I tried a very small patch (at the very edge) of my bikini line. I now have this monster purple bruise. Suffice it to say, this is one job I'm leaving to the professionals. I am going to book in pretty soon to have the whole shebang done at Brazilian Beauty. They have a great package for $115 AUD. I can't believe, something at a salon that's cheaper here than in the USA. I'm totally amazed.
Now that you have laughed yourself silly at my expense, just remember....I may write about YOU someday so don't laugh too hard ROFLMAO!
Pulling my skin tautly, He shuts his eyes ands proceeds to RRRRRRrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiipppppp the cotton strip cleanly off my skin...very little pain, I might add. We look at the strip. No hair in eveidence. We look at my pit. ALL of the hair is still there. OH SHIT! IT's STILL THERE!!!! Ok, once more, we prepare, and try again. We must have done something wrong, not enough goo, didn't leave the strip in place long enough, put a bit more pressure on the strip.
RRRRRIiiiiiiiipppppp! No! Not again! Oh.MY.God. The hair is still there. My underarm is bright red, it burns, %&$*9@# hell that hurt the second time. Ok, deep breaths, I quietly run off to the bathroom and grab a warm wash cloth to get off all the sticky green goo. (Which does smell nice, btw.) Ok...we shall try again tomorrow, I say to C~. He smiled and patted me on the bum indulgently.
Saturday morning. I wash everything and dry it properly, convinced it didn't work because I'd tried it too soon after showering. So, all by myself, in the bathroom....lights ablazing, I went to work. Hrmmmm, how do I do this . I know, eyebrows first, see if that works, then move onto the underarm again. Eyebrows marked, goo slapped on carefully, cotton strip placed (I have waxed my own eyebrows before, so I know the procedure), rip went SOME of the hair. Ok, try again. To make a long story shorter, my eyebrows are uneven, it STILL didn't work on my underarm, so I've had to wear talcum powder all weekend instead of anti-perspirant. I managed to rip a few (note I did say few) hairs off my leg.
In other words, Nads does not work. Not for me anyway. Oh and I did leave the best part for last. I tried a very small patch (at the very edge) of my bikini line. I now have this monster purple bruise. Suffice it to say, this is one job I'm leaving to the professionals. I am going to book in pretty soon to have the whole shebang done at Brazilian Beauty. They have a great package for $115 AUD. I can't believe, something at a salon that's cheaper here than in the USA. I'm totally amazed.
Now that you have laughed yourself silly at my expense, just remember....I may write about YOU someday so don't laugh too hard ROFLMAO!
Friday, November 03, 2006
Wax is NOT your friend
Ok, I am seriously thinking that tonight and tomorrow are going to be funny. Want to know why? Well, I'll tell you why. I bought some Nads hair removal stuff. C~ is going to help me wax everything. Yep, that's right....EVERYTHING! I am going to start off tonight by using the exfoliant on my legs and "good girl". Tonight we are going to use it on my underarms. It's all the rage here, getting ones armpits waxed. I am so sick and tired of shaving. I've had my eyebrows waxed, yeah it hurts, but what the hell.
I also told C~ that, of course, since he was going to be the one doing it, we may as well go for it all completely and I want a Brazilian wax too. I couldn't stand for a complete stranger to do it, so I'm going to make HIM do it! LOL
Anyway, back to Nads. I found a complete kit that has a little bit of all of their products in it and the cotton strips are washable, so hopefully I will be brave enough to do this again. Think I may need a daquiri before we start. Guess we will have to do it in the afternoon *wink* However, the funny thing about this is that recently I received an email from a friend about doing this very thing. Whoever thought this thing up should be given a Comedy Award of some kind. It is truly hilarious. Sooo, Over to the copied and pasted version of my friends' email.
CAUTION: Be prepared to laugh out loud...I laughed till I almost cried as I
could just see this happening! (And feel it too!)
All hair removal methods have tricked women with their promises of easy,
painless removal - The epilady, scissors, razors, Nair and now...the wax.
My night began as any other normal weeknight. Come home, fix dinner, and play
with the kids. I then had the thought that would ring painfully in my mind
for the next few hours: "Maybe I should pull the waxing kit out of the
medicine cabinet." So I headed to the site of my demise: the bathroom.
It was one of those "cold wax" kits. No melting a clump of hot wax, you
just rub the strips together in your hand, they get warm and you peel them apart
and press them to your leg (or wherever else) and you pull the hair right
off. No muss, no fuss. How hard can it be? I mean, I'm not a genius, but I
am mechanically inclined enough to figure this out. (YA THINK!?!)
So I pull one of the thin strips out. Its two strips facing each other
stuck together. Instead of rubbing them together, my genius kicks in so I get out
the hair dryer and heat it to 1000 degrees. ("Cold wax," yeah...right!)
I lay the strip across my thigh. Hold the skin around it tight and pull.
It works! OK, so it wasn't the best feeling, but it wasn't too bad. I can do
this! Hair removal no longer eludes me! I am She-rah, fighter of all
wayward body hair and maker of smooth skin extraordinaire.
With my next wax strip I move north. After checking on the kids, I sneak
back into the bathroom, for the ultimate hair fighting championship. I drop
my panties and place one foot on the toilet. Using the same procedure, I
apply the one strip across the right side of my bikini line, covering the
right half of my *whoo-whoo* and stretching down to the inside of my butt
cheek (Yes, it was a long strip) I inhale deeply and brace myself....RRRRIIIPPP!!!!
I'm blind!!! Blinded from pain!!!!....OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! Vision returning,
I notice that I've only managed to pull off half the strip. CRAP!!!
Another deep breath and RRIIPP!! Everything is swirly and spotted. I think
I may pass out...must stay conscious...Do I hear crashing drums??? Breathe,
breathe...OK, back to normal.
I want to see my trophy - a wax covered strip, the one that has caused me
so much pain, with my hairy pelt sticking to it. I want to revel in the glory
that is my triumph over body hair. I hold up the strip! There's no hair on
it. Where is the hair??? WHERE IS THE WAX???
Slowly I ease my head down, foot still perched on the toilet. I see the
hair. The hair that should be on the strip. I touch. I am touching wax.
CRAP! I run my fingers over the most sensitive part of my body, which is
now covered in cold wax and matted hair. Then I make the next BIG
mistake...remember my foot is still propped up on the toilet? I know I
need to do something. So I put my foot down. DANG!!!!!!!! I hear the slamming
of a cell door. "whoo-whoo*? Sealed shut!
Butt?? Sealed shut! I penguin walk around the bathroom trying to figure out
what to do and think to myself "Please don't let me get the urge to poop. My
head may pop off!" What can I do to melt the wax? Hot water!! Hot water
melts wax!!!
I'll run the hottest water I can stand into the bathtub, get in, immerse
the wax-covered bits and the wax should melt and I can gently wipe it off,
right??? WRONG!!!!!!!
I get in the tub - the water is slightly hotter than that used to torture
prisoners of war or sterilize surgical equipment - I sit.
Now, the only thing worse than having your nether regions glued together is
having them glued together and then glued to the bottom of the tub...in
scalding hot water. Which, by the way, doesn’t melt cold wax?
So, now I'm stuck to the bottom of the tub as though I had cement-epoxied
myself to the porcelain!!
God bless the man who had convinced me a few months ago to have a phone put
in the bathroom!!!!!
I call my friend, thinking surely she has waxed before and has some secret
of how to get me undone. It's a very good conversation starter - "So, my
butt and who-ha are glued together to the bottom of the tub!"
There is a slight pause. She doesn't know any secret tricks for removal but
she does try to hide her laughter from me. She wants to know exactly where
the wax is located, "Are we talking cheeks or who-ha?"
She's laughing out loud by now...I can hear her. I give her the rundown and
she suggests I call the number on the side of the box. YEAH!!!!! Right!! I
should be the joke of someone else's night.
While we go through various solutions, I resort to scraping the wax off
with a razor. Nothing feels better then to have your girlie goodies covered in
hot wax, glued shut, stuck to the tub in super hot water and then dry-shaving the sticky wax off!!
By now the brain is not working, dignity has taken a major hike and I'm
pretty sure I'm going to need Post-Traumatic Stress counseling for this
event.
My friend is still talking with me when I finally see my saving
grace....the lotion they give you to remove the excess wax. What do I really have to
lose at this point? I rub some on and OH MY GOD!!!!!!!
The scream probably woke the kids and scared the dickens out of my friend.
It’s sooo painful, but I really don't care. "IT WORKS!! It works!!"
I get a hearty congratulation from my friend and she hangs up. I
successfully remove the remainder of the wax and then notice to my grief
and despair....THE HAIR IS STILL THERE.......ALL OF IT!!!!!!!!!!
So I recklessly shave it off. Heck, I'm numb by now. Nothing hurts. I could
have amputated my own leg at this point.
Next week I'm going to try hair color...... Now that’s funny ........
Notttttttttt
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Tomato Pie Recipe
Tomato Pie
1 Pie shell, unbaked
5 large tomatoes sliced
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
3 tsp dried basil (I like to use freshly torn basil leaves is I have them)
*may also substitute dried Italian Seasoning Herb Blend*
Sprinkle of garlic powder *to taste*
¾ cup good mayonnaise (not miracle whip or other sweet type mayo)
1 ¼ cups sharp cheddar cheese
Layer tomatoes, sprinkling each layer with seasonings
Mix mayo & cheese (salt, pepper, garlic, and seasonings may also be added to this to make it taste nicer). Spread mayo/cheese mixture over the top tomatoes. Bake at 350 F for 35-40 minutes on middle rack.
When top is nicely golden brown, it is ready, let cool and serve slightly warm. It keeps well in the fridge, just heat up in the microwave and you have a wonderful snack!
RE: Last post
Ok, last post notwithstanding, I'm generally not given to maudlin or self-pitying behaviour. I should have re-read montchan's post about her being swede-ified. Yep, that one truly made me laugh.
Ok, for all the folks not in the know about that pic I used for last post. That is my parents circa 1968. Dad was leaving for Viet Nam. It was a picture taken by one of those photographer dudes they have for every ship. My dad was in the Navy on the U.S.S. Jouett . The above picture is of my parents now, or as they looked a month ago on their 40th anniversary.
I'm so happy that they have had a good year. This year they got to have their 40th anniversary ( a surprise party) and they also got to take their first REAL vacation in many years. All by themselves, no kids trailing along and they went off to LA to visit some cousins, then on to San Diego (where I was born). THat's where they went to a reunion of the Jouett. Dad got to see lots of guys he spent 4 years with out on the high seas. TO hear him tell it, they didn't see a single day of action, just cooked steaks on hibachis and stole strawberry ice cream....ermmmm, I mean requisitioned the ice cream. Kind of reminds me of an old M*A*S*H* re-run to hear him tell it.
Perhaps one day I'll relate some of those old stories. Perhaps not. Perhaps I'm just being maudlin again.
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