Time for an Update

Thursday 21 June 2012 - On Sunday I saw Rock of Ages with my friend Kim. I had seen the crappy reviews, but had also seen the stage show, so I was still looking forward to seeing the movie.

I can see why people didn't or wouldn't like it, if they don't like (a) musicals or (b) the music in this particular musical. It is specifically '80's hair band rock, and not for everyone. I wasn't a big fan of this kind of music when it was new, so I think one of the main reasons I like this movie and show, is the nostalgia aspect, taking me back to my best decade ever (so far, of course). The dialogue is mainly to fill in time before they burst into song yet again, so the storyline is not the strong feature. The young lovers - gorgeous, big Britney Spears voice (her), nice guy great voice (him) - were fine, but their story was the usual, angsty, young love, break up, get back together etc. The music is the real star, and the big stars in the cast really bring it to life.

I loved Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand, who brought most of the 'comic relief''; Mary J Blige just blew them all out of the water whenever she sang - I especially liked her "Anyway You Want It"; Catherine Zeta-Jones was fantastic as always, I liked her "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "We're Not Gonna Take It" vs Russell Brand's "We Built This City". Tom Cruise was freaking brilliant as Stacee Jaxx, which was to be expected - he was never going to make a fool of himself, so I'm sure he researched, buffed up and learned his moves till they were spot on. Just a really great performance, as was the music and singing. 8 out of 10.

On Wednesday, we had a planning day away from work, at Bronny's house. It was such pleasant weather, and we had a nice time out 'in the country", just outside Ipswich (I believe?). Anyway, we had morning & afternoon tea, a yummy BBQ for lunch, a game of pool in the afternoon, and squeezed a bit of work in between. Bron's dog Coco was a bit shy, but lovely, pottering around and not getting in our way, but accepting pats and lying in the sun - nice life.

Action - Lorraine taking a shot, Shikha more interested in her chocolate cake, Brett seemingly the only one aware of the  photo being taken, Andy giving tips to Lorraine maybe? and Gemma helping Bronny to clean up

Sunshiney Saturday

Saturday 16 June 2012 - Today Kylie & her mum arrived back from Hong Kong. My housesitting stint over, I headed home to unpack, do some washing, check my PO Box and get some groceries at Lutwyche. Then at 12, I headed to The Fox & The Hair, in Spring Hill to get my hair coloured, cut etc.

Today was an absolutely beautiful, sunny day in Brisbane - a great day to sit in a hairdresser's for 3 hours or so. The things we do for [cough] 'beauty'. I could have been trudging around inside Chermside shopping centre, or sitting watching a few hours of telly, so much to do inside on a gorgeous winter's day. SARCASM.

I find it a slightly daunting event, going to a new hairdresser for the first time. My lovely regular, Courtney is about to have a baby, so 8 weeks after the last time I saw her, I went to a girl who is the niece of a lady at my work. Jasmine was great, I am happy with my colour; the cutter was Tami/Thelma from Ireland. Her real name is Thelma (but pronounced 'Tel-ma', said with a lovely lilting Irish accent) - but the way she pronounces it is apparently too hard for Aussies so she had to change it to Tami. She was great too, full of suggestions which I rejected, but did a good job, I reckon.

One of my luxuries in life is for someone else to do my hair. There is so much of it (which they always let me know, in case I wasn't aware), and they do a much better job of it than I do. Then I love running my hand over it when it is straight and soft - as it usually isn't either of those qualities... So - potentially traumatic visit to new hairdresser did not turn out that way, yay.

What an interesting post this has been. Rock of Ages tomorrow, so I will post a fabulously entertaining review of that - something to look forward to!

Amazing Race Thursday

Thursday 14 June 2012 - The Amazing Race Episode 3 was on Thursday this week, so as not to compete with State of Origin on Wednesday night. Hopefully Channel 7 won't do the swapping nights thing they like to do when shows aren't rating or for whatever reason they do it.
Tonight they started by doing a driving test in Jaipur, India. Heh. 


Interesting moments:

• Sticky with half an arm missing does his team's test - the driving instructor's face was funny, changing from shocked and a bit scared, to respect at his ability. 
• The hippie ladies - Teresa spraying the aura cleanser while Sue tries to drive, getting annoyed
• Paul the conceited idiot, getting ready to drag race Kym & Donna - and stalls his car. Funny.
• Botox Sarah doesn't seem like a very nice person, and is kind of scary to look at. Of course princess has only driven an automatic previously. James her boyfriend: "She doesn't have the best driving skills, according to her insurance company". When she was stressing while driving, she said botox made her look "quite thrilled and happy and..." James: “Surprised” – I'm liking James the boyfriend’s dry humour. It's obviously how he copes with her. 
• Grace & Joseph - she is a bit irritating, I think she tries the dumb act on a bit: "How good do I look, driving a manual?" A random thing to say to your brother. Also: "I don't really like to use my brain". Urgh.

Then they had to load up clay pots on a trailer thingy and get a big bull to tow it without losing/breaking more than 15 pots. 
Donna & Kym thought Paul backed into their pots and knocked some off with his backpack - I actually don't think he did back into their pots, I think they drove a bit too close to him. Anyway, now there's animosity, Kym said he & Donna are the worst team to cross - grudgeholders for sure. Keeps it interesting. 


Poor old Sticky & Sam, did so well all the way through and then got to the pit stop, and the tuktuk driver wanted more money paid than what they had. They had to beg from other people, then were so relieved when they got the extra money, they hugged the driver - even after he ripped them off! They are nice guys and deserved to come first.
2 - Ross & Tarryn Father/daughter team
3 - Michelle & Jo - twins
4 - Kym & Donna who narrowly beat
5 - Paul & Steve - sucked in Paul - "I'm an accountant for a living so I should be good with numbers"... finished the stair counting challenge first go "but that's got to be expected of me" - gracious guy. Urgh again.
6 - Shane & Andrew the cops
7 - Joseph & Grace
8 - James & Sarah
9 - Lucy & Amelia the Italian sisters
10 - Sue & Teresa the hippies - goneski. Teresa said they were now "bonded for life" - I don't think Sue agreed; she seemed to be getting a bit irritated by the other chicky a few times. 

Housesitting Adventures

Wednesday 13 June 2012 - As I type, with a contented puppy sleeping on the lounge nearby, and muted neighbours shouting at their TVs as the 2nd State of Origin plays out (care factor zero on my part), I am sitting in my friend Kylie's lounge chair in front of her massive flat screen TV.

Margaret & David (At The Movies) are currently reviewing Rock of Ages, and I already have chills, seeing Russell Brand & crowd singing We Built This City vs Catherine Zeta-Jones & friends singing We're Not Gonna Take It. Great stuff! I am soooo looking forward to this movie, having loved the stageshow I saw in the past year. Yes, still looking forward to it, even though Marg thinks it has a "hokey screenplay" and David only gives it 3.5 out of 5, and Marg 3 out of 5 stars. Obviously not the kind of musical they really like, I concede.

I am housesitting for Kylie while she is in Hong Kong for a week with her Mum. The weekend went okay, it rained almost non-stop and so I played with Rama, the puppy, and watched a lot of TV. Got through the 2nd season of Offspring, finished the first season of Justified and watched the first episode of The Borgias, which Brett kindly got for me. I am having a bath each night, a total indulgence since I don't have a tub at my place, only a shower... it doesn't take much to please me!

Anyway, on Monday (long weekend), I went to see The Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb, an Egyptian exhibition at the Museum with Sean, Sam & Katie. It was a nice day - until I got back to the house to find Rama had completely destroyed her tennis ball, leaving pieces all over the lounge room rug.... after vacuuming it up and wondering if by chance she had swallowed any pieces, my answer came when she vomited 3 times ON THE SHAGPILE RUG and then about 10 more times around the house. Gross, disgusting and disturbing.

I remembered Cooper, Sean's dog, doing a similar thing a while back, getting a chunk of rubber blocking something and having an operation to remove it. Great. So I rang the 24 hour vet who told me to keep an eye on her and see if she would stop spewing and become her old self before I went to bed. Long story short, about 3 hours and a sleep later, she was jumping around and playing like nothing had even happened. Far out. SO much responsibility that I am not prepared for, looking after another living being! She's been a good little dog for the other days I've been here, doing her own thing, playing, running around and being cute.

Ah well, at least Collingwood won the AFL against Melbourne that day, and Wests had beaten Melbourne Storm on the previous Friday night!

Over the past couple of weeks, I have thought of more songs to add to my favourite songs compilation, so here are the latest additions, in no particular order:

• Melt With You - Modern English (from Valley Girl movie - another classic '80s song)
• In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel (from Say Anything - fabulous John Cusack/'80s movie)
• Run To The Water - Live (beautiful lyrics)
• The Middle - Jimmy Eat World (great for just feeling better instead of sorry for myself)
• Wake Up - Arcade Fire (ultimate big arena crowd singalong song - my aim is to see them live)
• Jesus Of Suburbia - Green Day (epic, amazing song)
• Romeo & Juliet - Dire Straits (gorgeous, and I love anything to do with R & J)
• Unguarded Moment - The Church (just love this song for no particular reason)

And here are the previous favourites that I listed back in April:

• Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello
• Town Called Malice - The Jam
• Walls Come Tumbling Down - Style Council
• Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
• Burn Your Name - Powderfinger
• New Born - Muse
• I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor - Arctic Monkeys
• If You Leave - OMD

Hmm, so much for a Top 10. Maybe a Top 20 or maybe I could do a [Triple J] Hottest 100 rip off effort?

Amazing Race Australia Episode 2

Wednesday 6 June 2012 - India.
Reasons I just don't like Adam & Steve (but mainly Adam) - quotes from Adam:

• "I think that I'm the intellectual powerhouse of the team, but Steve complements me very well... I'm the mastermind of the operation"
• "We know we can beat them (Sticky & Steve, and the sisters team) because they are physically weaker than us"
• "I wouldn't say I dance, I flex in rhythm to music" 

Also, they are both a-holes for not letting the cops team follow them after the cops got so lost

I don't like Joseph of the brother & sister team much either. He said about Grace, his sister:

"Any of her weaknesses will be covered by my strengths" 

Nor Botox Sarah, of On/Off Couple Sarah & James, because:

• firstly, she sulked at Manila airport (understandable) because James didn't want to buy her a drink when she was thirsty - but then when he did buy her some water, she refused to drink it AND kept the sulkiness going once they had arrived in Delhi! International travel-sulking, quite a talent.
• Then she spent 5 minutes arguing about an Indian rickshaw (?) driver overcharging them, and not letting James have any input into decisions or discussions, just cutting him off when he tried to reason with her

James was funny, when she had trouble with the Bollywood script - "For someone you can never get to shut up, she really struggled with speaking". BURN! 

Teams and people I do like - this week? 

• Tarryn and Ross, the father/daughter team, who saved the sisters from elimination last week, shone again when they tried to help the cousins with no money, Adam & Dane. They offered to buy them train tickets to get to the pit stop. Unlucky that there were no trains, only rickshaws. Also made me laugh when she said (about the Bollywood script) "As long as we get the proNOUNciation" and her dad said "proNUNciation". Ha. Not a great start!
• Sticky & Sam, after making 50 "bricks" out of cow dung and hay, and being given the next clue by an Indian woman - both of them raised their poo-covered hands to "High 5?" her. She didn't want to. 
• Sue & Teresa, the hippies, for getting out the aura cleansing spray whenever things go wrong

Anyway, the results:

1. Go Sam & Sticky! Well-played
2. Cheerleader Twins, thanks to the Bollywood dancing, they jumped a few places
3. Hippies 
4. Tarryn & Ross [...Then they showed the poor director of the Bollywood movie that had to judge them all - by the time Joseph & Grace hugged him for letting them through, he just looked exhausted and wishing he'd never agreed to signing up for this caper in the first place!]
5. Paul & Steve - bugger
6. Kym & Donna the Brissy couple [... Next came Adam & Dane - they had to sell a pair of their shoes to get some rickshaw money, apparently breaching the race conditions by selling their clothing, so they got a 30 minute penalty]
7. Andrew & Shane the cops
8. Joseph & Grace
9. James & Botox Sarah
10. The sisters - which meant Adam & Dane are out, and the sisters are safe again - another close call for them

Thankful Thursday

Thursday 31 May 2012 - Tonight after work, I met up with my good friend Mark. I had not seen him or talked to him for quite a while. I feel like I have made a breakthrough, and am thrilled about it.

I fell for Mark's friend last year. Long story short, it didn't go so well for me and I was fairly devastated. Since then, whenever I saw or heard from Mark, I would then think of the other one, and would feel down for days afterwards. Even though some time has gone by, and I am feeling more positive (most of the time), I still felt hesitant to see or contact Mark, with that mental & emotional link ongoing. Unfair on him, but his friendship has not failed me, and tonight, I was very happy to see him again. We had a brief but lovely catchup, and I feel good that we re-connected. Small steps.

I feel so grateful for all my friends. Moreso with a couple of white wines in me (now), but also when I'm sober! I would be a wreck without them watching out for me, and always being there for me.

Also tonight, my nephew Mitchell is being confirmed in the Catholic Church in Sydney. Thursday night is a random night for a Confirmation, but I suppose they have to work around the Bishop's busy timetable... My brother Sean, Mitch's godfather, has flown down to be his sponsor tonight. Bless little Mitchy, such a lovely boy. Not so little any more, but still totally loveable.

Amazing Race Australia Episode 1

Wednesday 30 May 2012 - I loved the first season of this show last year, and have been looking forward to the new season. Here is my synopsis of the first episode tonight.

Impressive open shot of Grant Bowler standing on top of the Watsons Bay Lighthouse

Meeting the teams:

Shane & Andrew - Melbourne cops seem ok, blokey, cheery

Michelle & Jo – Cheerleading twins - great job description – also air hosties. Of course.

Sticky & Sam - flatmates - Sticky has no left arm – they seem like good mates

James & Sarah - on/off partners – wow – plastic surgery much?

Adam and Dane – indigenous cousins – they reckon they’ll never get lost!

Sue & Teresa – Geraldton hairdressers - Teresa boss – hippies with a “positive energy & vibe”

Ross & Tarryn - father & daughter – fit – competitive dad?

Lucy & Emilia – schoolteachers, sisters, Italian

Kym & Donna - engaged Brisbane couple - like 2 bits of lego. “We’re old, we don’t need more friends”

Joseph & Grace - brother & sister – know it all superior bloke; she seems a bit dumb

Paul & Steve workmates accountant & tradie “step aside or get stepped on” – super competitive

Starting the race at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, I think?

Car Puzzle – had to collect their car, only going straight forward or backward, other cars in the way. Cooperation required with other teams

Cops ahead – but need to not jinx themselves by saying that being cops helps them out...

Sarah – heels are really practical

Paul is a wannabe alpha-male (aka dick). “I can predict the pathway we could go through”. Out first

Adam & Dane - nice attitude, helping other team, so it will come back to them later.

Bimbos “we’re brainy, fit... not just pretty faces”. And their car’s out straight away!

Sticky & Sam. Yeah, don’t worry about the bimbos, whether they’re from Sydney or not. Going the wrong way to the airport, across the Harbour Bridge...

Sue & Teresa - Aura cleansing spray!? “Get the good vibes going on” – okay.

Plastic Sarah is annoying her on/off partner already...

Italian sisters providing a bit of light comic relief.

They all seem quite excited about going to Manila...?

At the airport:

Travelex man’s instructions – had to use subtitles! Heh. Bimbos and Alpha males are there first.

Meanwhile, Hippies still at car puzzle – last

Sticky & Sam made it after heading to North Sydney

Hippies are a little less chilled in the traffic

All made it onto the one flight to Philippines

Manila:

All trying to get taxis – Twins headed “Upstairs in our bright pink tshirts – we stopped the traffic” – bimbos admitting they use their stereotype to get ahead, irritating – there always have to be bimbos

Dick Paul is a “forward thinker, doesn’t want any other forward thinkers to compete with” – that is, the bimbos, who beat them to a cab.

Cheerleaders 1^st to the challenge – eating 8 balut: fertilised duck eggs? Sooo can’t blame them for not wanting to do it – disgusting! No fricking way. “Texture not taste. Mind over matter didn’t help”

Father/daughter team Ross & Tarryn did well

Kim & Donna – of course, she’s allergic to eggs. I’d use that excuse too. He had to eat the lot

Alphas – Paul “being half Filipino, I knew what it was, but I’d never tried it” – they competed with each other to eat faster, ended up first to leave. Steve “This is what we’re going to do the whole race, the WHOLE race” Really? Talking yourself up after the first challenge...

Brother/sister team Joseph & Grace – she had no problem, eating 5 eggs to his 3

HAHA – Adam & Dane, the indigenous cousins – Adam starts dry-wretching, because he “can eat witchety grubs, but not this”

Sticky & Sam got stuck in a cab, ran out of money, in wrong place? No - lucky that. They cruise through the eating

Lucy of the Italian sisters – gagging big time, Twins still stru

Twins still struggling, sympathy spewing

Hippy Teresa crying, hoping the universe will forgive them for eating poor almost formed ducklings

Sticky & Sam wanted to travel to the next place with Botox Sarah and on/off James, as they had no money left. James & B.S. wouldn’t lend sticky any money, and jumped into a cab. B.S.- “We’re not there to butter people’s buns!” He felt a bit bad though

Cheerleaders were first, now last

Sticky & Sam got on a free bus – and got there before James & Botox, most excellent

Twins still eating – man in the crowd, shouting out “Go Super Twins Go”! Hmmph.

Detour – Pig/Jig - catch 4 oily pigs or learn and perform dance:

Donna is a Kiwi, it’s a bit annoying to listen to her – she’s an aerobics instructor, so the dance just seemed obvious to her

Paul & Steve greased up to catch 2 pigs each

Dane like a pro catching his 1^st piggy

Aerobics instructor Kiwi then thought the dance would take too long, so they swapped to Pigs

Paul is a dirty player, running into Adam on purpose to get to his pig. Donna good with getting pig,

Sticky & Sam – how will Sticky catch a pig with only one arm? He did good! They got theirs quickly

Tarryn & Ross doing okay

Bro & Sis – Grace  not very graceful, dragging herself & her pig to the gate

Emilia & Lucy doing okay

Cops did good – afterwards, one said it was right up their alley, 2 cops going for 2 pigs – was that a paying-out-on-cops joke?

Cheerleaders decided to do dances as they are professional cheerleaders - “tits and teeth” stuffed it up! Switched to pigs! Twins – Michelle? too precious to pick up pig, then instructed the other one on how to do it.

Hippies dancing – the dance judges are very harsh

James & Botox Sarah last – sucked in – chasing pigs in little skirt, did she take off her heels? Good on her for getting down & dirty though

Building a raft to go across the bay to the pit stop:

Alphas and Cousins first to start

“Unfortunately I wasn’t too helpful with the actual labour work” – Paul the Alpha – their raft then fell apart in water

Adam & Dane did good with raft, putting them in the lead

Kym & Jo confident with their raft, didn’t laugh at Alphas, nice of them

Hippies got out the aura spray, and did the dance correctly, yay. But coming last

Kym & donna 2^nd into the water, Steve & Sticky at same time

Adam & Dane’s raft started breaking apart, they had to go back to the beach, after they’d almost made it to the end

Tarryn & Ross next

Paul & Steve in the water, overtaken as they fell apart again – back on the beach, staring at the raft, Paul not even helping to take it apart to start again – Frig, he wanted to take a penalty! Steve willing to keep trying, was getting cranky – good to see he can stand up for himself against Paul

Team 1 - Ross & Tarryn. Nice one! He is 55 years old. First salvage pass – gain an additional 1 hour head start, or they can save the last team from elimination, gaining an ally for later.

2 - Donna & Kym
3 – James & Sarah!

4 - Hippies went from last to 4^th – excellent raft building

5 – Sticky and Sam – great rowing, one-armed man! Like this team

6 - Joseph & Grace

7 - Twins

8 - Cops

9 - Adam and Dane – yay!

10 Bugger – Paul & Steve, after getting help building the raft

11 Lucy & Emilia, also after help building the raft, but being overtaken by the Alphas. They think they’ve been eliminated.

Ross & Tarryn appear – I predict they will take the 1 hour head start

Tarryn looks very serious. Oh BLESS! They are saving the Italian sisters. I like Ross & Tarryn for doing that. Grant got a little choked up too. I don’t think Emilia & Lucy will last many more legs though, unfortunately.

I also reckon Ross & Tarryn would not have saved the Alpha males if they had come last...

A most excellent first episode!