Tuesday Tales

Tuesday 31 Jan 2012 - Today was my friend Hellina's last day at work in our company. I will miss seeing her every day, but we have agreed to have lunch once a fortnight or so. Hopefully this will happen so we get to stay in touch.

Tonight I spoke to Mum & Dad, my sister Donna and my brother Sean. All the family in one night's worth of calls - this doesn't happen too often, because I usually ramble on a bit, which takes a while, so it was good to catch up on their lives.

I went okay with Day 1 of my new 30 Day Challenge, not to swear (too much). I caught myself a couple of times, but practice will make perfect, I'm sure!

As there is obviously not much going on today, I looked up some "getting to know you questions" on www.humorthatworks.com and will attempt to answer 10 of the "favourites" questions they list:

1. What was your favorite food when you were a child? Hot chips - not much has changed
2. What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod? #1 album played is Arcade Fire - The Suburbs 
3. What is one of your favorite quotes? "Don't lose your faith to your lost naivete, weather the storm and don't look back on last November, when your banners were burning down" - Green Day
4. What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity? Watching TV
5. What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Cleaning
6. What is your favorite form of exercise? Zumba
7. What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year? Month of May 
8. What’s your least favorite mode of transportation? Motorbikes 
9. What is your favorite body part? Mouth
10. What sound do you love? Magpies singing

Day 30 - Same, Same But Different

Monday 30 Jan 2012 - today is the last day of my 30 Day Challenge, to take a photo every day. Tomorrow, I am going to start a new 30 Day Challenge. I am going to try not to swear for 30 days. Let's see how the first day goes - wish me luck! Not that I'm a complete pottymouth, but it can only be a good thing to cut down on the cussin' and try to be a bit more ladylike and civil in my thoughts and words.

I reckon everyone can do a 30 Day Challenge to add a new good habit, or try to get rid of a bad habit. See the attachment that my brother first showed me, a talk from the site, www.TED.com, which motivated me to get started.

Matt Cutts - Try Something New For 30 Days.  "If you really want something badly enough, you can do anything for 30 days" http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html

My last daily photo is what I would call - Same, Same, But Different.

Day 30 - my new haircut and the look I was going for (and also trying for the same model pose)

Ha - you can hardly tell the difference, right?

My hair is never blonder or straighter than when I have paid a visit to my adorable hairdresser, Courtney. She is amazing. Unfortunately, the style goes slowly downhill from the first wash onwards... My hair currently feels lovely and smooth when I run my  hand over it, which makes me smile. Simple things in life.  

More good news - I just found out my favourite show, Bondi Rescue, is back on Channel 10 from next Monday. Simple things in life!

Day 29 Rainy Sunday Afternoon

Sunday 29 Jan 2012 - After going out for a coffee and the Sunday paper, grocery shopping and winning $7 on a Crossword Scratchie, this is what my Sunday afternoon consisted of.

Day 29 Photo - a new TV series on DVD, coffee, a custard scroll and my lounge

My achievements today have been watching 3 episodes of Justified (starring a very cool, charming and handsome Timothy Olyphant) and the first episode of the first season of Sons Of Anarchy. Both show promise. Tonight on ABC2, I plan on watching Zen which stars Rufus Sewell - another good piece of eye candy. Love my TV - could you guess?

Sitting Around Saturday

Saturday 28 Jan 2012 - Today was made for sitting on the lounge watching The Big Bang Theory and having a nap in the middle of the day. Which is coincidentally what I did, while it was raining and nice and cool all day.

I am Catholic. It's not too fashionable these days, but so be it. I like the feeling of peace and calm when I am in a church. I like the rites and rituals at mass - it's all a comfort to me, and like my own version of meditation. I like to think someone is watching out for me in my life. Being a work in progress, I am not the best Christian, but am trying to be better.

Anyway, just a brief reason for my Day 28 photo - St Columba's church. So pretty.

Day 27 - Flat Friday

Friday 27 Jan 2012 - Today I feel fairly... meh. Could be a culmination, or combination of: the weather, a friend's tragedy, being up since 5:30am today, maybe the arrogant a-hole driver that made me reverse on a one lane street so he could get through (such a big man in his little light blue Daihatsu Charade, flashing his lights and waving me back), or feeling a bit left out this afternoon. In summary, I can't really be bothered thinking of stuff to write tonight.

So I looked up some poetry (yes, online!), and came to a website called poetryoflife.com. I am just going to quote part of a poem called Some Days by a clever poet named Praveen (no need to be concerned, I'm just having a Flat Friday, and this struck a chord):

Some days I think I am fine

Some days I think I have a problem

Some days I am strong

Some days I am weak

Some days I am closer to truth

Some days it seems far far away

Some days I think I understand

Some days I am just lost

Some days I have a feeling

one day everything

will be alright

and that day

is closer than ever.



Day 27 photo taken on Paper Camera app in Con Tours mode - sums it up

Australia Day Thursday

Thursday 26 Jan 2012 - Today is Australia Day. My favourite thing to do on this day every year is to listen to the Triple J Hottest 100.

Back on Day 16, I voted for my top 10, and only 5 of my 10 songs appeared in the top 100, at numbers 97, 81, 56, 16 and 2. There were over 1.3 million votes this year.

Songs I liked in the Top 20:

20 Bluejuice - Act Your Age
17 Seeker Lover Keeper - Even Though I'm a Woman (BRILLIANT song, please listen to it, it is just gorgeous) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qeLI_6t6ds&ob=av2n
16 Grouplove - Tongue Tied
15 Foster The People - Helena Beat
11 Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
9 The Jezabels - Endless Summer
7 San Cisco - Awkward
3 Matt Corby - Brother (isn't he the little guy from Australian Idol a few years ago? Good tune anyway)
2 The Black Keys - Lonely Boy (yahoo!! my fave)

9 songs I really liked out of the top 20 - I'm still hanging in there hmm?

Number 1 was a totally expected and dull (in my opinion, but not nearly as bad as last year's Angus & Julia Stone snoozefest) Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know. I liked it for a while, but as usual, mainstream radio got a hold of it and overplayed it big time, so now I am a bit over it. Good on the Aussie though, to get to Number 1. And his real name is Wally, a true blue Aussie name if ever there was one. Good for him.

My big discovery was the Seeker Lover Keeper song. It is wonderful - Sarah Blasko is one of the 3 girls in this band, and I always love listening to her voice, whatever she sings.

Boy & Bear and The Wombats had 3 & 4 songs respectively in the Hottest 100. I have never warmed to Boy & Bear, I think they are fairly d-ull, although they had a song in the top 10 which had a bit of beat to it! The Wombats are okay, and obviously "the kids" love them.

Well that's it for another year, and that's my day over!  

Day 26 photo - a view of Brisbane city in the distance, from the top of Jessop St Windsor.

A slightly ominous sky and a way too large skyscraper standing out - that's the city I live and work in at this point in time. It's not too bad  =)

Day 25 - Weary on Wednesday

Wednesday 25 Jan 2012 - I was really tired this morning, after getting to bed at 12:40am and up again at 6:30am. I'm not as used to going out on school/work nights as I once was! But - a big Queen Bean coffee at work fixed that situation for a while. I had lunch with Debbie, and the rain slowed down during the day. Eventful, I know.

Today I booked flights to Newcastle in May for another girls' weekend away. I'll be going with a different group than my New Year adventure, but still great gals, most of whom I used to work with. So, we are going to the Lovedale Long Lunch at the Hunter Valley, put on by the wineries in the Lovedale area. Lots of choices for lunch, dessert and wine tastings. Lovely! Here is the link if anyone wants to find out more about it. Apparently it's quite a well-known annual event.

http://www.lovedalelonglunch.com.au/

I think before and after Canberra in March and the Hunter in May, I might have to lay low for a while and say no to some things. Because, much as I love having Something To Look Forward To, my credit card statement is not something I look forward to. At all. But like my friend Kylie (the organiser) said - you only live once. And I am determined to enjoy myself more this year. It's just a pity that so many good things cost money. These trips will be totally worth it though!

Day 25 Photo - a few of my favourite things OR a few pictures of one of my favourite things. Taken on Andy Pop mode on, yes, my Paper Camera phone app

I am currently eating the content of the picture as I create today's exciting post. Makes it so much more enjoyable a task.

Torrential Tuesday

Tuesday 24 Jan 2012 - Boy, did it rain in my part of the world today. It was the rainiest day I can remember having (this year). And it was the day my team & I went to Australia Zoo...

Our generous Team Leader got us all free entry (+ a donation) and drove one of the cars. The rain fell and fell and fell all day. But it was a good day all the same. We had our brollies and our stylish Australia Zoo rain ponchos to keep us semi-dry. We had a meet & greeter, Wayne, who told us the story of the zoo, showed us some big lizards and alligators, and gave us VIP seating at the Crocoseum to watch the birds & crocs show. We saw 3 of the beautiful tigers in their enclosure. Then we went to the Africa area, where the most adorable family of 3 rhinos were frolicking around, surprisingly agile; and the zebras who didn't pay much attention to the crowd or the rhinos, except when the Daddy Rhino charged one who was eating his patch of grass, apparently. 

After lunch and some mandatory work stuff, I stopped to take my photo of the day, then lost the others. Caught up with them at the gift store on the way out, then we made it home in the rain, care of 2 very cautious and safe drivers.

Day 24 photo - cute koalas at Australia Zoo. One is reaching down for its leaves, and the one on the left is peeking around the corner of its tree for the camera. Funny little fellows.

Part 2 of my day - My Chemical Romance show at a new venue called Eatons Hill Hotel (and Function Centre!), with my friends Kylie (the fan) and Debbie (like me, knew a few songs). Interesting place - not enough paved parking for starters. Upstairs was a "reserved tables only" dining & bar area, then the bistro where you lined up to order food, then a pokies area, then a bar and pool tables area with some outdoor seating - which would be great on a dry night. Tonight was not dry.

Downstairs was where the band played - it reminded me of the Lismore Workers Club auditorium where I used to see bands many years ago, but with a mezzanine level for the under 18s and a fancy ceiling. I liked this area, thought it was a good venue for a band.

The band was good. The crowd - most passionate indeed. I've never heard such high pitched, LOUD screaming before! I imagine it was the noise that The Beatles would have experienced. I never would have thought little emo kids could get so excited about something. And this crowd knew every. single. word. Incredible. But apart from the screaming, the audience was great, everyone had their own space and no tall people or idiots were in my vicinity. A good night.

So happy to make it home safely in the (still) pouring rain, and now hope to have a really good night's sleep, as it has been a big day.  

Day 23 Monday Musings

Monday 23 Jan 2012 - Today I had an early morning appointment to get my skin checked. I recommend Dr Ho at the Skin Cancer Clinic, Chermside, he is very good at finding nothing wrong with my skin, which I quite like. He cut a basel cell carcinoma (?) off my back a couple of years ago, and so now it's good to get the all clear for another year. Especially considering my teenage summers spent lying on the beach or in our back yard in Ballina, covered in baby oil... Damage has already been done, I know.

About 5 days after my skin check in January last year, I made the monumental error of going sailing (aka getting thrown about and soaked to the skin) on a fricking catamaran on muddy old Moreton Bay, ruining my friend's shirt and getting the worst sunburn of my life on my lower calves, feet and hands - the only uncovered parts of my body, and impossible to keep sunscreen from washing off. I was in pain, and felt guilty at somehow letting down Dr Ho! Hence my dislike of any boat without a motor, or where I have to throw myself out of the way of sails... Anyway. 

Today's photo was taken on my Paper Camera phone app again - it makes everyday things look different, and gives a new view on special items.

Day 23 photo - my Sisters statue, given to me by my lovely sister Donna one birthday - taken on "Pastel Perfect" mode

R.I.P. to Kim's dear Mum

Day 22 Perspective

Sunday 22 Jan 2012 - Today I got a text message with some bad news. A friend is at her mother's hospital bedside, and her family have just found out their poor Mum may only have 24 to 48 hours left of life, after a seemingly short illness. I am so sad for my friend and her family.

At the same time - selfishly - I am so grateful to have my family and friends. I always wonder why it takes something devastating like this to remember that we need to appreciate and value our loved ones while they are with us. 

Hopefully there will be happier posts to come, but I don't want to try writing anything right now, as it all seems fairly frivolous at the moment.  

Day 22 photo - a lovely sky over Windsor late this afternoon.

Day 21 Sitting Saturday

Saturday 21 Jan 2012 - Today I spent quality time with my niece Katie. We went out for coffee/iced chocolate, watched Puss In Boots, Alvin & The Chipmunks Part 2, and a few episodes of Scooby Doo; she made a boat out of pillows in the lounge room while I read the paper. A good way to spend the day. 


When my brother arrived home from work, and flopped on the lounge for a rest, I took my photo for the day.


Day 21 photo - Katie & Sean after a long day

Day 20 Friday with the Fam - again

Friday 20 Jan 2012 - Tonight I am staying at my brother's, so I can look after my niece on Saturday while he is at work and his wife is on a girls' weekend away. Just saw the end of Bernard Tomic's win over Dopologov (?) in the tennis. Good on the little fella. Hope he can go on to beat Roger Federer on Sunday...


Anyway, for today's photo, I learned that mundane, everyday things are more fun and interesting when living in Cartoon Land. Thanks to Allyson for the idea. 


Day 20 photo - catching the train this afternoon

Trip Planning Thursday

Thursday 19 Jan 2012 - I always like to have something in the near future to look forward to. This week, I walked past some street advertising for the Renaissance art exhibition in Canberra. So, being easily influenced by ads, I now have flights booked to Canberra for a little mini-break in March. My friend Kim is coming too, so we can be cultural in the Capital together! Just need to book the entry tickets to the exhibit & some accommodation. Yay! See? There I have - Something To Look Forward To.

This just sounds so enticing to me: "See 70 early and late Renaissance paintings by some of the most distinguished names in European art, such as Raphael, Botticelli, Titian and Bellini. Until now, none of the works has ever left Italy." Fabulous.

Well, today I also treated myself to the CD I was putting off buying, until I saw the man himself perform live. Which happened last Saturday night, and he is a very smooth and impressive (25 year old!) dude. Although looking at this picture, he has kind of girly wrists and hands - like an architect; or, someone who has never held a hammer or saw or wrench, whatever. His hands are great with a guitar though, which is a very good thing.

Day 19 photo - my new CD! Recommend that everyone checks him out.

Right now, I have the tennis on the TV and am listening to Arctic Monkeys (also recommended!) while writing this. Lleyton Hewitt is playing, and the camera keeps panning to his wife Bec, who used to be on Home & Away about 7 years ago. Now she is a wife & mother just there to support her hubby - so, why do we need to see her every time he hits a good shot or wins a game? Hmm. Just wondering.

Apparently Andy Roddick has a new mohawk. Maybe he is regretting it, as he is wearing a cap while playing. Wonder where his wife is, she's pretty too! Anyway, it's impossible to make tennis more interesting, to watch or talk about.

Greatest Cities of the World is on ABC1, Hong Kong. Slightly more fascinating, with Griff Rhys Jones hosting.  

Wow, what a Wednesday that was!

Wednesday 18 Jan 2012 - A fairly average day turned into a pretty fantastic night. Good things about this day:

• Pay Day!
• Day 18 Photo - my movie date, Shikha, at
• Moonlight Cinema at New Farm Park - Discount Wednesday meant tickets were $12

• Check out our stuff - bean bags, crackers, cheese & dips, orange juice, water, bottle of wine and (unseen) jar of coffee and blanket
• We were "invited" into the fenced off Moccona sponsored area, as they didn't get as many bookings as they'd expected - so, when all of the previously listed stuff is FREE - it makes for a great night!
• It stopped raining for our movie
• Shikha is no longer a Breaking Dawn virgin - **SPOILER** the strangest part for me, was when she asked "wow, is she (Bella) pregnant?" - my first thought was "are you kidding?!" then remembered she hadn't read the 4th book yet, so had no idea what was going to happen. It was good to see her discover what was going on as it happened, unlike probably everyone else there who would have been quoting lines along with the movie. Ha. Like me...

Sometimes, stars align and good things happen to good people. We totally deserved it!!

Day 17 - Trivial Tuesday

Tuesday 17 Jan 2012 - It rained again today. I took lunch to work, so I didn't take a lunch break to go outside, so basically, not much other than work & rain happened today. Oh, I rang Mum & Dad, they're going well.

So - tonight I will write some trivia about myself and try to make it interesting.

Day 17 photo - The book I am reading, taken using Neon Cola on my Paper Camera app

• I have never seen Finding Nemo, The Notebook or The Godfather movies
• In order, I like Coke then Coke Zero then Pepsi Max then Pepsi
• My favourite character in Modern Family is Phil Dunphy, then Cameron
• I like mushrooms and avocado
• I don't like smokers; drivers who tailgate; drivers who don't use their indicators; tuna; humidity; sailing in or on boats without motors and where you have to dodge sails/masts/booms, or whatever they are; country music
• I like taking long baths
• I like my TV, car, hair straightener, media player and lap top 
• My best & favourite subject at school was Ancient History
• My happy place is floating in the water off Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
• My 2nd favourite place in the world is Charles Bridge, Prague
• I buy fruit & veges in even amounts - eg 4 apples, 10 mushrooms, 12 snowpeas, never in odd numbers
• I am scared of thunderstorms (excellent when living in Brisbane in Summer)
• I like seeing my favourite bands perform live

Day 16 - The J's and G's

Monday 16 Jan 2012 - it is a lovely, cool, rainy day today. Day 16 photo is the view from my front door this afternoon

Each Australia Day, I look forward to hearing the Hottest 100 on Triple J, the "biggest music democracy in the world", and supposedly the most popular songs from the year just gone. Voting closed today - this is my top 10 list from what was on offer on the website:

Arctic Monkeys - Black Treacle                                        Eskimo Joe - Love is a Drug
Arctic Monkeys - The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala               Grouplove - Tongue Tied  
Busby Marou - Biding My Time                                         Miles Kane - Come Closer
Black Keys, The - Lonely Boy                                           Miles Kane - Inhaler  
Foo Fighters - Arlandria                                                  Sparkadia - China

Tonight I am settling in to watch the delayed telecast of the Golden Globe Awards....The red carpet is on right now, on Fox 8. Random interviewers have awkward conversations with the celebs, and ask about what brand dress the gals are wearing. Yep, it's deep.
I love that Ricky Gervais is hosting the GGs simply "to annoy the people who said he'd never be invited back" and "if people are offended - well, I don't care". And he looks suave in his suit too. I think he's great.

Whoa - Angelina looks gorgeous! As usual, but very nice frock!

Speaking of deep - Nicole Richie just shared her words of wisdom about fashion being "head to toe" - she does look good though =D

Evan Rachel Wood - just beautiful AND she got to work on Ides of March with Ryan Gosling and George Clooney. AND she was Queen of the Vampires in True Blood. Slightly envious of that girl - except for the fact she was with Marilyn Manson for a while...

Nyaww, Morgan Freeman's getting the Cecil B. DeMille Award apparently - I served him at Sydney Airport once, when he was changing money over to Aussie Dollars - and he was very charming and lovely. Good for him getting an award.

Oop, here's Tina Fey - one of my heroes. She looks adorable. I love her! Emma Stone  - fabulous in every way.

Women being told they look gorgeous, guys being asked about their work, everyone honoured to be there and just be nominated, yada yada. You get the idea of the red carpet.

Some movies I am not going to rush to see: The Artist, The Iron Lady, War Horse, Albert Nobbs, Jack & Jill, New Year's Eve, A FEW BEST MEN!

Day 15 - A Sunless Summer Sunday

Sunday 15 Jan 12 - Today I was invited to my cousin Ben's place for a yummy BBQ lunch. Ben and his wife Kylie own the place I call my Holiday House. Whenever they go away for a holiday, I get to stay in their lovely home and make use of their full Foxtel service, huge bathtub, air-conditioning and pool, I mean, mind their house & dog for them... A swim was also on offer today, but due to the dark clouds, wind and rain, I decided against it. A bit of a change from the start of this week.

They came up to Brisbane a couple of years ago from Melbourne, and I had only met Kylie once, and seen Ben a couple of times since childhood. Now they are good friends of mine and I love spending time with them and their kids, Declan, Bryn & Imogen. On weekends in winter, you just might find me plonked on their lounge, eating their party pies, watching the AFL on their large telly and screaming at the Collingwood players to win.

Day 15 photo - Declan and Bryn

And for something different:
Stuff I like: Arcade Fire, BBQs, Christmas Carols (but ONLY on Christmas Day - don't ask!), Dancing to live music, Emoticon "tongue sticking out" :-P , Freshly mown grass smell, Good Grammar, Hair straighteners, Ice cream flavour Hokey Pokey, Jelly flavour lime, Kissing, Laughing, Music, Nieces & Nephew, Owls, Pizza, Quietness, Ryans - ie Reynolds & Gosling, Sisters, TV, US version of The Office, Vineyards, Wineries, Xylophones (I suppose!), Yellow, Zumba.

Day 14 Super-Busy Saturday

Saturday 14 Jan 2012 - I am going to sleep very well tonight. Early start this morning, picking up Shikha and heading down to Mantra Legends on the Gold Coast by 9am for our work conference. One of the better conferences I've been to, we walked into the function room to a bongo-y type drum at each seat, and 4 people leading the drumming on stage. For about 20 minutes we beat away happily on our drums, following the lead drummer. SO much fun! Although my hands hurt a bit after a while, it was a great way to loosen up and get everyone pumped up for the morning ahead.

The guest speaker was Tom O'Toole, the owner of Beechworth Bakery, the most sucessful bakery in Australia. He was quite a character, and kept the crowd enthralled for the whole time he was on stage. Very entertaining and inspiring, as you'd hope a motivational speaker would be. After lunch we had fun doing The Amazing Race around Surfers. Fun, but exhausting. I had to head back to Brisbane while the others stayed on the Coast for the Awards night.

Day 14 Photo - my Riverstage allowed-to-buy-alcohol bracelet, taken using the Paper Camera app:

Tonight I saw the Arctic Monkeys concert at Riverstage, my favourite outdoor venue. They were fantastic, but I really, really liked the support act, Miles Kane. He is wonderful. And he has legs so thin that, in his tight red jeans, would make many a woman jealous! I have wanted to see him live since he and Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys collaborated in a side project called The Last Shadow Puppets. Please check this song out and see how good this guy is (Alex is kinda talented too!). <3

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGV8xCkpXjE

Friday with Friends

Friday 13 Jan 2012 - Today I had lunch with my friend Hellina. She had Christmas and New Year with her family in the Philippines - a bit more exotic than my dear Ballina & Newcastle... It was good to catch up on what's happening in her life.

I am very slack at staying in touch with my friends and extended family. These people would already know this. When I do see or talk to them, it is always good, and I always intend to make more of an effort to regularly check in, but it never works that way. But I hope these people know that I never forget about them, and think about them often. I have many amazing friends - they just don't all live in Brisbane!

Tonight I saw yet another movie, this time, The Descendants, with my friend Kim. One word to sum it up - TEARJERKER! But interesting, and a really good movie. Despite the fact I try to avoid sad movies, this one was really worth seeing. George Clooney is in a different role, and he is fantastic, as are the kids. No spoilers, but I would really recommend this one. 8.5 out of 10.

Now, I just read my horoscope, and if anyone can explain the following, I'd love to know what it means, especially how it could possibly affect my life: "your ruling planet Venus conjuncts delusional Neptune in your 10th House of Publicity' - say wha'?

Currently I have MTV on the telly - they are showing My Chemical Romance in concert. I just happen to be seeing them in just over a week, at a slightly smaller venue than the massive arena on the TV. A good chance to see what is in store - they are really good, despite me not knowing too many of their songs. Oop, it just ended with some wise words from the lead singer - "Stay beautiful, keep it ugly". I'll try to live by that!

I am also seeing a band on Saturday night, and it will hopefully be most excellent (looking forward to the main support too) - here is my photo for Day 13:

Day 12 Thinking Healthy Thursday

Thursday 12 Jan 2012 - Today at the doctor's, I got some blood test results and it seems all is well, except I need to :

• lower my cholesterol levels - meaning, less red meat, cheese, full dairy, chocolate and fatty foods
• lower the urea my kidneys produce - drink more water
• increase iron levels - leafy green veges and an iron supplement
• lose weight - that old chestnut

I really like my doctor. He is like a kindly uncle. Very thorough and reassuring, and he never dismisses or rolls his eyes at my hypochondria - that I know of... Next up, my dentist appointment, then my skin cancer check, then as a little reward - my lovely hairdresser. And I may try to get a pedicure before the end of January. That will take care of the New Year health & beauty upkeep.

Back at work, the third afternoon tea this week (quite a few birthdays this time of year) tested my new health resolve. No cheese & crackers, no chips, no lollies for me. Boo. Hard to say no really. But I did, and was very pleased with my will power - for one day anyway! Tomorrow is a new day.

Speaking of work, check out this lot and see if you can pick the odd one out:

Day 12 photo - Half my team

Andy the worker bee, Brett, Gemma & Belinda - looking at the world in a different way. Tilted.

Day 11 Tower Heist

Wednesday 11 Jan 2012 - Another hot one today, so once home from work, I pretty much left again to seek air-con, dinner and a movie... in the hope that when the movie was over, it would have cooled down a bit. Not to be. Still stinking hot inside my little flat, but getting better with the doors open and the fans going strong.

The movie I saw tonight was Tower Heist, starring Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick and Alan Alda, among others. I liked it, there were unexpected turns and some really funny lines and scenes. My neighbour who was with me, hates heights, and she had issues with one scene shot from up high; I even had trouble with it too at one point! A good effort from the boys - 7 out of 10.

Day 11 photo - This is my colleague and friend Shikha - ain't she cute?

She is my pod-neighbour, and an all-knowing, go-to person at work; a very funny girl, who likes to cook masterpieces for her hubby and then take photos of the meals so we can see them and be jealous that we can't try them out. Also going through the Twilight Saga addiction we gals sometimes experience! Thanks Shikha for being my photo subject for Day 11.

On a completely different topic - Is it sad & embarrassing that I'm kind of looking forward to watching the new Young Talent Time on TV?

Day 10 New Musical Discovery Tuesday

Today there was a "guerilla gig" at Brunswick St Mall at Fortitude Valley, about a 15 minute walk from where I work. These are mini concerts put on around Australia and filmed by Channel V, and I got the headsup when reading Sunday Mail on the weekend. The band is usually meant to be a secret, but to get an audience, the clues given were "an LA band who may leave the crowd Tongue-Tied". Once I googled that info and found the band Grouplove, I looked them up on Youtube. Apparently the song "Tongue-Tied" is on an Ipod/phone/pad advert, but I hadn't heard it before.

For something different to do during lunch (on a 34 degree day), I trotted down to the Mall, and watched about 20 minutes worth - the band put on a really good acoustic show. They were just adorable - young and having a lovely time, jumping around and singing like happy little hippies, and I really liked them. I love discovering a new band that I like, it hasn't happened for a while, but it happened today.

I thoroughly recommend you check this song out, see what you think. I've also listened to "Colours" and "Lovely Cup" and they are great songs too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x1wjGKHjBI

Day 10 photo Valley Mall, Grouplove Guerilla Gig - not my best effort, I admit - on the plus side, I think the photo conveys a part of Brisbane that, while not as attractive as the Story Bridge, is good for a bit o' culture; also McWhirters, an old Brissy landmark; and the enthusiastic crowd - and a teeny glimpse of the boys in the band, in front of the Channel V sign... see? just slightly above and to the left of Wade there!

 Maybe I'll do better with tomorrow's photo!

Day 9 Hot Hot Hot

Monday 9 Jan 2012 - Today it is hot in Brisbane. Being summer, it's kind of UNsurprising. And yet, people around me have been complaining about the heat as though it's never been hot here before. I think of this reaction whenever others complain about being too cold in winter (which is sooo good in Brisbane) and wishing it was summer. Be careful what you wish for, I say! I never wish for summer. It is stinking hot and humid in Brisbane for about 3 months, and glorious for the rest of the year.


Today my friend's Mum had a fall while playing tennis and broke her arm and had to be operated on as soon as she got to a hospital. Hopefully she will recover quickly and take it easy while the family look after her. It made me think about how important Mums are, and how they can never get sick or hurt, else the family fall to pieces. I never want to take my mother or any of my family for granted. Too special!


On a lighter note, Brett at work took my photo of the day today - and passed on a fantastic Android phone app called Paper Camera. It does lots of good things to photos, like this for example:


Day 9 photo - me being intelligent &/or thoughtful, which is the look I was going for - or - toothache &/or taking a quick nap, as it seems to have turned out (my computer looks rad in the background though) 

Day 8 - Shopping & Sherlock

Sunday 8 Jan 2012 - Today I had another fairly relaxed day. Fed the boys, Cooper & Pepsi, then went back to bed for a good old-fashioned sleep-in. Headed to North Lakes to do some much-needed grocery shopping to drop back at home, after a leisurely coffee reading the paper and not winning on a crossword scratchie.


This afternoon, 4 of us saw Sherlock Holmes 2 - A Game of Shadows at Palace James Street. After a ridiculously high number of ads (including a seemingly never-going-to-end ad or maybe a short film for Corona, and multiple QLD government and Honda ads), the movie itself was as good as anticipated. 


I think Robert Downey Jr is pretty great, and the combination of him, Jude Law and the girl from the original Swedish version of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo works really well. Guy Ritchie loves doing the slow-motion effect, and I like that in the fast action scenes, so you get some detail of what's going on, who is doing what etc, before the normal speed continues... I find it a bit hard to catch it all otherwise! After trying to work out for about half the movie, just how I knew the actor playing Moriarty, I realised it was the English guy in the recent seasons of Mad Men. Anyway. He did a good job of being evil and fairly disturbing, I must say. One of my faves, Stephen Fry, was as excellent and quirky as always, playing Sherlock's brother Mycroft. Had a giggle every time he called him Sherly. 


I liked this a lot, but possibly not quite as much as the first one. [Possible Spoiler here but not too much] The impending war theme & ammunition/bomb making was pretty forboding, dark and oppressive, but I guess that was the aim. Loved the main trio working together, and the Fry comic relief moments. 8 out of 10. 


Day 8 photo - 2 of my favourite people, Debbie & Kim, in front of a movie poster that is not the movie we went to see.

 

Day 7 Rest Day Saturday

Saturday 7 Jan 2012 - This weekend I am minding my brother's house & animals while he and his family are camping on Moreton Island. Hopefully the bushfire that started there earlier this week is under control now so they will be safe, as well as being able to breathe fresh air! Bit of a contrast to the floods from last year. I on the other hand, have not done much at all today - just a rest day.  


Camping - not for me. Ever. Nothing about it appeals to me. And yet, I know many people who love it. Takes all kinds, right?


Day 7 photo - the boys I've been hanging with today - Cooper & Pepsi

My "theme song" for this year is Feeling Good (the Muse version). Very New Year-y, I think. "It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me, and I'm feeeeeeling gooooood..."


I've been listening to a lot of Foo Fighters lately. In December, the day before they played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, I won 4 free tickets from Triple M to see them. Getting through was one feat, and winning, an even bigger one for me. Great show, even better being free! Anyway, I take great pleasure in playing their Greatest Hits CD and singing along loudly in my car. My favourites at the moment are Best of You and The Pretender, also their newest song, These Days. 


Tim Freedman has a fantastic new song, a cover of an '80s song by Billy Fields, called "You Weren't In Love With Me". I love it so much, I made it my mobile ring tone. Even though the lyrics are not overly cheery, the new version is very upbeat and catchy, and it makes me smile and dance every time I hear it - well, maybe I don't actually dance. Not every time anyway.   


A big crowd pleaser at my work is The Black Keys' Lonely Boy. We love the song and especially the film clip. Check this out - I reckon it's the song of this summer, and the dancing guy is fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8

Family Friday

Friday 6 Jan 2012 - The photo for day 6 is of the back of St John's Cathedral in Brisbane. I pass it most days at lunchtime on my way to the city, and it always strikes me as being so un-Brisbane, and I really like this view of it. It reminds me of Hogwarts from the Harry Potter movies, or maybe even a creepy movie abbey, or a Scooby Doo episode...

Day 6 - "Brisbane Hogwarts"

Friday night is at my brother's place, having yummy dinner with him & my sis-in-law, and watching a DVD of The Inbetweeners Movie...

One of my favourite shows is At The Movies on ABC1, and Margaret & David, the hosts, can influence the movies I end up watching. I remember Margaret's review of The Inbetweeners - how she even sat through this, I'll never know. She HATED it, and gave it one of her worst reviews I can remember!

I really like the TV show, in small doses, but usually find myself cringing at a lot of the things the 4 boys say and do. The movie triples the number of times this happens. They are all awkward, sex-obsessed, freaky kids who don't seem to succeed with the ladies, and get picked on by guys. The ultimate low in the movie was a scene where Neil's love of "older" women is shown in great detail on the dance floor of a club. Ew, ew, ewwww! Jay's varied  choice of names for sex and girls' genitalia continues to amaze and disgust, and Simon was extremely frustrating with his obsession for his ex, Carly, when there was a lovely girl wanting him... quite realistic really! Apart from these things, the movie is very funny, VERY lowbrow, but it is what it is. The setting is great, I think they filmed in Spain, but it's meant to be somewhere in Crete, and these actors seem pretty much up for anything to make their characters' situations as awkward, gross and funny as possible.  

Scenes I liked - Jay waking up in the ants' nest; Neil, Simon and Will dancing to impress some girls (Neil - great dancer; the other 2 - not so much); Jay and Neil caught in the front row watching "Fernando" perform his unique act, up really close; Simon jumping off the party boat and the end result of that. 

Not a movie for Margaret from At The Movies, for sure. But the right audience would love it. I give it a good 7.5 out of 10.

Day 5 Social Dining Day

Thursday, 5 Jan 2012 - My workday began with a team breakfast at Queen Bean, the most excellent cafe on the ground floor of our building. Team breakfasts are always a treat, and a time to talk about stuff other than work - like we NEVER do when we are actually at work *cough*

I had lunch with my good friend and former teammate (at my last job), Jo-Leah, who I haven't really had a chance to catch up with since before Christmas, even though we both work on the same level of the building. Subway for a relatively cheap & cheerful option today.

Dinner was with another friend I haven't seen for a long time. Corina & I first worked together in Sydney about 15 years ago at Concorde Holidays, and now we both work for Flight Centre, albeit in different cities. So, as she is in Brissy for the week for work, we ventured out to Verve for some dinner and conversation. Lots of food, lots of talking. It's always good to talk to friends that, even though you don't see them often, you can just pick up with where you left off, like you just saw them yesterday, instead of maybe a year ago. Anyway, walking off dinner on the way back to her apartment through the city, we passed some rather good shops.
  
Day 5 photo - Corina gazing adoringly at a frock in Bellissima, near Verve

So. My dining options today reinforce to me the need to stick to my Year of Activity theme. Although, "social" activity is part of that too!

This month, I intend to: walk to or from work at least once a week, go to at least one Zumba class per week, and try my first ever yoga class. There's a good start, right?

 

The 1st 4 Days

Sunday, 1 Jan 2012 - 5 great girls, no hangovers, beautiful weather and beaches in Newcastle. A good start to the new year.

The previous day... After a Hunter Valley Winery Tour (a lovely way to end 2011), we were fairly exhausted by the end of the day, but rallied to go out to Bar Petite, which closed at 11pm (?!), then watched the fireworks from our apartment balcony and hit the hay by 12:30am.

On the first day of the year, we had a late breaky at a cafe along the waterfront, then went driving for a while around the surprisingly gorgeous Newcastle beaches. We finished the day with cocktails and dinner at Merewether Surf Club Bar & Grill, overlooking the ocean - fantastic location and meal.

This month I am starting a 30 day "habit", where, for 30 days I take a photo on my phone. In November I went for 30 days without buying a coffee - that was a challenge. Next month it will be something else, perhaps alcohol-free...

So, here is my Day 1 photo - the girls, at Merewether Ocean Baths

Monday, 2 Jan 2012 - today while Kim caught up with a friend, we 4 others checked out Charlestown Square, quite the impressive shopping centre a few suburbs away. Then met up with Kim for lunch in Darby Street, a strip of great cafes & restaurants. We ate at The Depot, then our lovely friend and "driver" Sofija had to say goodbye and beat the traffic back to Sydney. The rest of us headed back to our hotel to collect our bags and cabbed it to the airport, for our (very short) flights back to Brisbane.

Day 2 photo - my new friend Sofija

Tuesday, 3 Jan 2012 - Back in Brisbane last night, back to work today... not feeling too bad about going back to work, after a good mini-break away from the day-to-day. Staying at my cousins' place in Bulimba while they are away, I love catching the citycat to the city. Such a nice way to start the day, sailing along the river instead of catching the train or bus. Taking a slight shine off the experience is the 15% fare increase that kicked in today, hmmph. Anyway.

Day 3 photo - by far the best part of Brisbane, the Story Bridge, on an overcast morning

Wednesday, 4 Jan 2012 - So, today I had a one-on-one with my Team Leader at work. This meeting was where my new blog was created, with his help, as I am sooo not techno-savvy. One of the more productive meetings I've had, truth be told - ha!

I am lucky to work with a really good group of people, we make each other laugh and really support each other. Meaning, they support me grrrreatly.

Example - Day 4 photo - lucky bamboo on my desk. I have to say, the last half of 2011 was not great for me. One of my colleagues shows up the day we get back from Christmas break, with this plant, for me, so I can have a better 2012. A kind thought that brought tears to my eyes (happens ALL the time), and I just love my lucky bamboo. I  need to give it a name, I think.



Welcome to 2012 - My Year of Activity

I have given this year the theme "2012 - My year of Activity". This year, I will attempt to stay active, physically, mentally and whatever other ways arise!

To keep myself amused and to account for my year, as it will no doubt fly by, I am starting this blog. I hope readers are interested in my posts; if not, no worries, I will still keep at it.

This is like a diary that will contain my personal thoughts (nothing too dark and deep, I hope), musings, movie, TV & music reviews, funny stuff and trivia. 

Welcome to my little world, reader. And welcome to me. 

Okay, this picture was chosen to see if I could upload an image. Nothing symbolic.