Falling down

I fell down a flight of stairs the other day. It's strange how your mind works as you fall to your near death experience. My first thought was, "don't yell. cause people will hear that". My plan was to quietly bounce down the stairs and shake the rafts as went.

I made it to the bottom without a sound escaping my lips. "maybe no one heard that i thought". A moment later a kind gentleman rushed over to see if i was okay. He looked over me. "WOW! you want to do it again? this time i'll film it!" Seconds later the entire building was standing over me. "DON"T MOVE!" they yelled at me.

I felt fine. My ego had shatter on the way down but i felt fine. I explained i was okay while they asked if anything was broken. I looked around. "My pen, i think".

I got up assuring them there was nothing to fear and that i was fine. I limped out the door feeling slightly bruised, very embarrassed but surprisingly unhurt.

30 minutes later the shock wore off. My whole body hurt. I felt like walking would possibly kill me. I just wanted to lay down and go to sleep. Thankfully about that time hubby showed up and refused to let that happen. He nursed me back to semi health that evening and i returned to work (much to the astonishment of my colleagues) the next day.

Today i still feel sore. and you wouldn't believe the bruises i've got on my hips!

the kiss

Sneaky Sound System: Kansass City

Wishing all the best to Jenne & Kyle

Congrats on a beautiful wedding and all the best for a fabulous future!

meeting people on a plane

As we traveled from Chicago to Hawaii, i sat next to a friar. He was from Ukraine and his English was very good for simple conversation. I wanted to ask him why he chose to wear the robe. I wanted to ask him why he traveled in it. I wanted to ask but his english wasn't ready for something like that. But we helped each other through paper work and baggage claim.

Being the tourist

I know that the American economy is in recession, or at least it's being reported as headed in that direction, but i could hardly believe my eyes when i went to Chicago yesterday. Times are hard here. So hard, that dresses are being made out of whatever material is available. This includes pop-cans, playing cards, and little bits of plastic.



Hard times have meant paranoia is on the rise. Whatever money the city has, it is investing in protecting itself. This includes armor plating for the deer.

Touring the pottery room

So my great friend Jenne took us on a tour of the pottery class room at her previous University. It was great fun. Someone there is obviously very talented with the pottery.



^this entire thing is made of pottery. The boarder, the picture...even the parts that look like cardboard are made from pottery. So cool. I had to touch the picture to prove it was actually all the same material.



^Hubby in front of a pile of discarded artwork.

The making of

One of the most fascinating things that we have seen on our trip as been the making of the carousel. This project has been put together through the effort of volunteers who help carve, paint, and polish the pieces. We got very excited. The entire project will take many years to complete, but the process is amazing, so i've included a few photos.





^the model of the end project.




^a few of the finished/almost finished products.

Can you believe they are all hand carved??!

brief update

It's been a while since i posted. Reason: i'm on holiday.

I will be on holiday for another 2ish weeks. So far we've seen a little of hawaii (fun and WARM) spent some time with my mum (HEAPS OF FUN!) and now we are running around the north west usa. Currently i am typing this post from my brother's room at Walla Walla. It is so nice to see my brother.

I just wanted you all to know that i'm doing well and having fun and still alive. Take care, more pictures will follow soon...probably.

OH! one more thing. I managed to get my hands on 7 seasons of buffy for the amazing price of $140! i'm so happy. my fangirl self is going on a buffy fest...possibly while we drive around the North West USA:)

Photo update from Hawaii

Hubby - with one of the many fountain's in Hawaii that we found adorable.

So far...

If you missed me...thats sweet.

I've been navigating international airports for the last few days. So far i've flown into Hawaii just in time to see a burned out plane next to the airway. Chris assures me that its for training purposes, but i still found the fist sight on landing a little intimidating. Between that and the turbulence, its a bit scary.

I'd upload pictures, but the computer hates me. Perhaps i can make it fall in love with me yet...we'll keep trying.

xoxox
your faithful but lapsing blogger

fangirl rant

It wasn't that long ago that musicals were considered my "mother's entertainment". Happily, they have come back in style. Joss Whedon (yes my fangirl-ness continues) has created another musical with a twist.

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog has not fully been released yet, but the first two episodes have been jewels. The humour and sensarity in each song and in each line makes me appreciate good writing even more. The series has been excellently acted by former child star Neil Patrick Harris, former Firefly captain Nathan Fillion, and by Buffy extra Felicia Day. The entire show is directed at an internet audience which is a big budget first. (and yes i do appreciate it)

If you haven't seen any good television lately, switch over the internet. Joss is serving up the deserts online!

Diaries...its all about perspective

DOG DIARY

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!



CAT DIARY

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are
fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I
nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only
thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it
clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I
could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement
was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means, and how
to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking.I must try this
again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and
seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

the hair cut montage

The Hair cut Montage:

stream of consciousness writing

I haven't had much to say lately, not because my brain malfunctioning, i just don't know where to start. I once had someone tell me to start writing and i'd figure out what needed to be said. So here i am, writing, without much of a purpose other than to get a few things off my chest.

The big thing at the moment is mortality. I have never had a problem with death. Or at least, i have never had a problem with my own death. Not that i'm suicidal, i just don't fear it. Yet, somehow when other people die or it becomes apparent that they could leave my life, i get clingy. How dare they be removed from the land of the living! Like with most of my life, i am terribly selfish. No one should die before me.

Saturday mocked me.

As i sat in church i heard the prayer for Mimi. Mimi is a dear friend of mine. She is my adopted grandmother. She is always so concerned for everyone else. The prayer ended. The pastor got up to speak the sermon. He prefaced his sermon with the announcement that Mimi had suffered a stroke that morning. I left church and called the hospital.

She was "stable" i was told. The rest of the day i spent on the verge of tears wondering what "stable" meant. Could she speak? Was she mobile?

It was that evening i found out that another woman i was close to as a child passed away. Mama K was the stern yet funny old lady who had a day care in her home. She looked like a grandmother. She treated everyone like they were her children and their business was her business. I loved her. I brought her back a spoon from Australia for her collection. She was very excited. I didn't see her again for several years. I wasn't sure she remembered me when i saw her at a friend's wedding. That was the last time i saw her.

The weekend was emotionally exhausting. The week has been numb. But Mimi gets out of hospital today. She is doing well. She has all her movement and a little slurring of her speech, but she's okay. I think i will be too.

rapid aging

I am definitely getting old...no...not "getting" old...i am old. I have determined this fact from watching girls merely 2-3 years my junior with their partners.

If you ever need to feel mature, go to the local hang out spot and watch the couples interact. If you last more than 20 minutes without feeling ill, you're either in a very good town (send me the name of the town, i'm willing to move) or you're part of "that age group".

"That age group" is categorised by their screeches. Their sickeningly sweet displays of affection (usually meant for the public's attention) and their speech impediment that makes every other word sound like "sex!"

I'm certain that any doctor in the country would recognise that spending more than 20 minutes in the presence of this is bad for your health. It definitely caused my rapid aging!

brief update

It was almost 2 weeks ago that my contract expired. This should have meant lots of time for blogging and writing. What it has actually meant is a lot of time spent not in front of a computer.

It's kinda nice actually. I had forgotten what the sunshine feels like and how wind whips around your body on fine autum days.

Actually i lie. I've been in the gym...i get limited sun and no wind. But i've tripled the amount of weight i can lift! and that makes it all worth it, right?

the female breakdown

Academics are studying three of the most written about public figures of our age:Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan and Amy Winehouse. These academics are looking for reasons why media swarm around them in their moments of trauma...unlike the way the media reacts to their male counterparts.

One suggestion is that every story about these women is a "cautionary tale". It tells women they can not have a family and a profession.

Another theory is that readers like to see celebrities who "have it all" loose it a bit because it helps them feel better about themselves.

Personally i like the theory that these are cautionary tales. While i can see many male celebrities have similar break downs, i don't see the media fuss over them like they have these women. Women are expected to be able to "hold it together"and when they can't, it only goes to "prove" that women can not lead a "man's life". (there were too may "" in that sentence. forgive me) This in turns put women back into the role of passive observers and obedient buyers.

"Britney's having trouble with the courts again. She can't take care of herself. I can though, and i'll prove it by buying face cream. See i'm caring about how i look. If i were her, i'd never go out looking like that"

We might not go through that exact thought process, but the result is meant to be similar. Tabloids are not about selling stories, but selling advertisements. The stories are there to help guide readers to the products.

But what is your theory? Do you think these are cautionary tales? or are they simply a random coincidence of women's meltdown?

so we're workin' on it

yet again i confess my devotion to joss whedon...i'm sure he would be a little creeped out to know a complete stranger is "devoted" to him...but hey, he produces good shit!

fun with tax papers

After spending 3 hours on my taxes (for my country of birth), i have realised something. My country of birth has dyslexic and confused people working in their highest levels of taxation.

It is the only explanation i can come to for the reasoning behind the way the forms are presented. They start out reasonable. "start at the top", but about a third of the way down they go into a strange vortex of obscurity. "Add line 41 and 34 minus line 62 on form 3311" Your frantic scrambling to find each line only ends in frustration as you realise you have not yet begun form 3311 and can not go further on your current form until you work part of the way through the other form. You begin form 3311 only to discover that on line 22, you will need to subtract your total income from your first form with any deductions from form 4231.

By this time you've probably lost the first form, but don't worry, its probably under that 6 foot stack of papers you may or may not need to fill out the next form.

Needless to say, i dislike tax time.