101 things about me

Monday 31 March 2008

This is... the contents of my handbag

Wow! Now I understand why my bag feels so heavy! And having taken the shot, I realised I hadn't even included my mobile phone or my second (yes SECOND!) set of house keys!

So here it is... the contents of my handbag...
2 sets of "paint your own" Russian Matryoshka nesting dolls!
1 lipgloss and 3 lipsticks - crazy really for a girl who barely wears makeup, and certainly not on a daily basis!
3 purses - one for all my 'normal' purse 'stuff', one for change (that doen't fit in purse no.1) and the third for my Canon IXUS camera which I carry everywhere.
A badge (which I made myself) which is intended to remind me to seriously consider setting up an ETSY store...
A print out of business cards I am mocking up for my cousin's massage business... and a blank CD...
A packet of magnets along with a few cardboard disks to be covered and stuck on my fridge...
A gift voucher for a Thai cooking class which I am taking this Thursday at Pip's Cooking School...
A pay-slip, a travel pass, a few loose coins, and a few hair clips...
The inevitable 3 pens, tissues and my car key...
Yes, there is some needlepoint I started yesterday...
Oh, and 2 diaries... one a daily planner and the second my creative journal...
Phew! I think that's it - I have given myself a bit of a headache! Luckily I have a few Aspro and Panadol close at hand!

The subject for this weeks "This is..." was suggested by Sharon from Iris & Lily.
The "This is..." meme started with the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

Ever wonder if you are doing the wrong job?

I am here...

I've been crazy busy at work and on top of that I have a cold, so all of my 'free' time has been taken up curled up in bed, in sleep therapy. I have a list of posts just waiting to be written and posted. Stay tuned... updates are on the way.

Thursday 20 March 2008

Happy Easter...

I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to this long week-end. The last month or more has been pretty crazy. I am now into the third week of my 16 week arts course (which I am LOVING by the way) and working the other 3 days a week. When I have been at work, it has been frantic. Last week-end I was in Adelaide from early Saturday to late Sunday night during a record breaking heat wave and so all in all, there hasn't been much let-up at all. Busy busy busy. I feel like I am in need of 4 days of rest and relaxation.

Before I talk of my own plans however, first a bit of a sledging to MYER. I was in there today and asked what time they would be closing tonight... The reply? TEN PM. Come on MYER management. TEN PM?? That's a disgrace. Tomorrow is a public holiday - give your team a break. There are enough shopping hours in the year without creating more. Enough already.

Unlike the retailers employees, I am grateful to say I have finished up for the week and the week-end is well and truly started.

My Easter week-end is already expected to be pretty busy, but all things are fun and so it should be relatively easy to ease into some time out. Tomorrow we are heading to a local pub where all lunchtime contributions will be donated to Melbourne's Good Friday Appeal for the Children's Hospital. Count me in on that.

On Saturday we will be attending a friend's wedding in the Yarra Valley where we will stay overnight and then on Sunday we will continue on our way, for another couple of days out of the city. Sounds great and I am sure in the morning, following a good night's sleep and waking to the sound of the birds and not the shrieking of the alarm, I will be feeling more enthusiastic. Right now I just want to crawl into bed and sleep.

Have a happy Easter every-one. Enjoy the break.

Monday 17 March 2008

Happy St Patrick's Day...

This was emailed to me a couple of weeks ago, and of course I had to share it with you guys! And what better day than St Patrick's Day!

These men are installing bollards to stop cars parking on the pavement outside an Irish sports bar. They are cleaning up at the end of the day. How long do you think it will be before they realise? Oopsie!

Wouldn't you love to see their faces???

Happy St Patrick's Day everyone! Have a grand day, and the luck of the Irish to you all!

Thursday 13 March 2008

It's all for a good cause...

A favour to ask... it will only take a minute....

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
Don't forget to click on the box!

The Breast Cancer site
PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO TELL 10 MORE...

Friday 7 March 2008

Which dot are you?


In September last year I added a link to Clustermaps on my blog. This little addition tracks how many visitors I get to my blog and it also indicates with a red dot where they are in the world. It's a great tool, and whilst I don't have the high numbers of visitors as some, I am still amazed at the regular readers I have and the blogger friends I have made from all the corners of the world.

Many of you drop by to say hi on a regular basis - Brandy from Canada, Just Run from Colorado, Smiler also from Canada, Alyndabear in London... to mention just a few. And that doesn't include any readers from all over Australia.

Since September I have had nearly 6000 visitors! Many are you (who are fellow bloggers) are on my faves list (which is due for an update sometime soon!)

But for all the people who leave comments, there are many mysteries... who is it in New Zealand, and who visits from South Africa. There are lots of readers from the UK, the USA, and Canada, Europe, China, Japan, India and other parts of Asia. I have a number of regulars from South America and even someone in Iceland! Wow! Is that you? Are you in Poland? Venezuela? Peru? Denmark? Iran? Korea? Do you come from Iceland or Alaska? The UK?

Where are you? Who are you? Do you drop by, but don't leave a comment because you don't know what to say? Well now's your chance. Come say hi! Indulge me. Leave a comment and wave you arms wildly. I know you're out there. And if you like, leave a link to your blog, I'll come and say gidday... or bonjour, or hallo, or ciao, or 여보세요, or こんにちは.

Thursday 6 March 2008

The philosophy of Charles Schultz


The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials... the most money... or the most awards. They are simply the ones that care the most. Thanks for dropping by. Have a good day.

I saw this at Yolanda's blog... and I just had to share it. Go say hi!

Tuesday 4 March 2008

Cinema etiquette...

I love going to the cinema. Love it.

I love the big screen, the Dolby sound system and the impact of totally immersing myself in the story. In the art of cinema, I can allow myself to believe anything. Kids can fly? Sure! People can be shot at solidly for 2 hours and survive unscathed? Why not! Animals can talk? Absolutely! People fall in love in a single glance? Well OK OK, I may be pushing it a little I know, but why the hell not? Movie magic is what it's all about.

I like to arrive early, get myself comfortable, turn off my mobile phone and sit for a while... still in expectation. I am captivated from the moment the lights dim. I watch intently through the previews, mentally noting what might be good for future viewing. And as the feature begins, I am quiet, and still in anticipation of uninterrupted entertainment.

Whilst I find joy in this, I am sorry to say the pleasures of big screen viewing are fading fast. Of course I am not at the cinema alone. There are others too, and I am afraid to say that not all of them share my dedication, and herein lies the problem. After a particularly annoying viewing last week, I wondered, not for the first time, why I choose to watch a movie in the company of complete strangers. Yes, the movie was fine, it was my fellow movie goers that disturbed my enjoyment.

Behind me sat the bag rustlers. They arrived as the light faded into the previews and then rustled into their supermarket bags, scrambling to find sweets and crisps to crunch on throughout the first half of the movie. To the right I had two people who insisted on talking throughout the previews and in all quiet moments during the movie. And to the left I had the greedy arm rest guy who elbowed his way into my space and then sat jiggling his left foot on his right knee so it bumped up against me.

The mobile phones were on silent. Though I may well ask why, given they chose to answer regardless and discuss the days adventures as they walked up the aisle, only to discuss the movie they were watching (missing) as they stood INSIDE the cinema doors and THEN concluded their conversation as they returned to their seats. The resulting shushes were ignored not once, but on three similar occasions.

As for the patrons who are weak of bladder, is it not possible to request a seat on the aisle for ease of exit? And do you think you could warn your friend BEFORE the movie that you may have to leave during the movie, INSTEAD of telling them at full volumed whisper before your hasty scramble for the exit mid-movie.

Aye aye aye. Is there not some sort of cinema etiquette written that can be signed and sealed at the time of ticket purchase? Seriously! It could go something like this...

I (insert attendees name here) do solemnly swear to abide by the following cinema etiquette:
I will arrive on time and take my seat prior to the dimming of lights.
I will empty my bladder prior to entering the cinema and agree to desist from drinking copious amounts of coca cola resulting in numerous visits to the bathroom...
I agree to turn off my mobile phone and not to answer it until the final credits have rolled.
I promise to reduce all rustling of bags to a minimum, making noises only during high volume levels in the show.
I will not talk, fart, slurp my drink, burp or sing along with the soundtrack.
If laughing is required I agree that it need not be accompanied by snorting, slapping of thighs or nudging of the stranger beside me.
I will not kick the seat in front of me. Nor will I remove my shoes and rest my feet on their armrests.
If I happen to fall asleep, I will not snore or rest my head on the shoulder of the stranger beside me.
I will not ask fellow patrons to explain the plot mid movie.
If I have seen the movie previously, I will not nudge the person beside me and tell them the next bit is "really funny", "really scary" or "really really sad".
In short... I will endeavour to enjoy the movie, without distraction and make sure that I do not interrupt the viewing pleasure of any other patrons, allowing them to do the same.
When the movie is over, I will not leave any residue of my choc-ice on the arm rest or chewing gum planted on the seats.
And finally, as I walk past people waiting to enter for the next showing, I will not exclaim loudly, "Oh I can't believe he died, I didn't see that coming! That was soooo sad."

Signed, (insert attendees name here)