Sorry, it had to be done! :-)
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Comin' up Smarties!!!
I was feeling flat as a tack yesterday. I had wanted to leave work at 4:30, but stupid me committed to a 40 box retrieval (urgently required for a court case of course!) at 4pm, which took me precisely 45 minutes to do, so I didn't manage to get away that early after all. I got to the gym and felt unmotivated. To add insult to injury, both "Fit-Girl" and "Cheerleader-Girl" were there. Not that I am bitter, but these girls embody everything that I am not. Fit-Girl (FG) has a bum that doesn't wobble, energy that wont flag and even though she is red and sweaty at the end of her work out, she is still beautiful. Cheerleader-Girl (CG) is blonde with a flawless complexion and flexibility to make ones head spin. They make me feel like John Candy with a Tequila hangover. I hauled myself through my workout, barely getting my heart-rate above the "green column" and eagerly anticipating the end. I was on the stretch mat with FG, who, not satisfied with a complete curves 30 minute workout, proceeded to do man push ups and those push upy thingies you do where you hang off the edge of a chair and lower yourself toward the ground (I did one of them once in year 10 PE and went into cardiac arrest!).
Once I got home though, things were on the up. Andy and I had our regular post-work de brief, which is always nice, regardless of the kind of day we both had. We went round to Andy's folks place for tea and got to catch up with Judy & Andrew as well. Then went home and had a nice early night!
This morning, despite Andy having to start work at 6am, life started to get better and I am now sitting here wondering why the hell I even considered feeling miserable yesterday! Life is so darn good right now!!!
- The extra 15 minutes I put in yesterday saved me having to get in early today (to get my flexi time up)!
- I did my tax this morning, I thought I'd have to pay! No no! They are gonna pay me!!!
- I go on holidays in 2 weeks (and one day) time!
- It's pay day!
- It's nearly Friday!
- All this in addition to all the other things I have to be grateful for, like Andy, like the fact that I live in Coromandel Valley (yes, I still get excited about that!), like the fact that I am alive, employed and generally healthy!
I'm off to skip through a meadow now! Have a nice day!!! :-)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow - Peter Hoeg
So I finally finished this book on the weekend! Absolute garbage! Ok, so maybe I am uncultured and missed the subtle beauty in the imagery of the prose, but I thought it was crap, ok? I can cope with a book not having a clear outcome, I can cope with violence and sex in a book, but some of it was just completely out of left field and made no sense.
It just went on and on about nothing, about characters that would turn up, say something mystifying and then disappear, maybe to be referred to later in the book, maybe not. I admit that part of the reason it was tricky to follow is that a lot of the names were Danish, Inuit or Greenlandic, so it was difficult to determine masculine and feminine, but I think if a book grabs you enough, you manage to work around that, but I just could not manage it in this book.
I think it turned up in a pile of books given to me by a friend who was moving house. If anyone would like it, please take it off my hands and see if you can make any sense of it!
It just went on and on about nothing, about characters that would turn up, say something mystifying and then disappear, maybe to be referred to later in the book, maybe not. I admit that part of the reason it was tricky to follow is that a lot of the names were Danish, Inuit or Greenlandic, so it was difficult to determine masculine and feminine, but I think if a book grabs you enough, you manage to work around that, but I just could not manage it in this book.
I think it turned up in a pile of books given to me by a friend who was moving house. If anyone would like it, please take it off my hands and see if you can make any sense of it!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Thanks Captain Obvious
One out of two weeks, I work in our city office, on the ground floor, at the front desk. Stretching out, probably 10 meters in front and slightly to the right of me, is a large window. Really quite large. Large enough that I can see out of it, quite well. Are you getting a picture of how large and transparent this window is?
When it is sunny, sun comes puring through the window, flooding me with essential vitamin D. When it rains, I get to sit here and look at the contorted faces of people running through the rain (don't ya just LOVE seeing people with 'rain face'?), when it is windy, the lone tree in my city scape sways, the wind howls loudly and the hanging sign on the restaurant across the road swings crazily. I could be the bureau of meteorology from where I sit!
Why is it then, that people who work upstairs, come down and see it necessary to tell me what the weather is like before they have even been out there!!!
"It's raining!"
"Sunny out there today!"
"Gee's that wind is howling through!"
Thanks, I hadn't noticed the weather through that BIG FREAKING WINDOW!!!!!!
When it is sunny, sun comes puring through the window, flooding me with essential vitamin D. When it rains, I get to sit here and look at the contorted faces of people running through the rain (don't ya just LOVE seeing people with 'rain face'?), when it is windy, the lone tree in my city scape sways, the wind howls loudly and the hanging sign on the restaurant across the road swings crazily. I could be the bureau of meteorology from where I sit!
Why is it then, that people who work upstairs, come down and see it necessary to tell me what the weather is like before they have even been out there!!!
"It's raining!"
"Sunny out there today!"
"Gee's that wind is howling through!"
Thanks, I hadn't noticed the weather through that BIG FREAKING WINDOW!!!!!!
The Lunch Break Retail Goddess
They said it couldn't be done in a half hour lunch break. Not by a woman in her mid....ok, lateish 20's. They said she'd go over time, they said she wouldn't find what she wanted, they said, they said, they said. She went ahead and did it anyway.
12.35pm: Subject leaves office, nay-sayers shaking their heads, lunch releiver wondering if she'll manage to have her lunch break at 1:05, if ever.
12.38pm: Subject enters store one with a determined glint in her eye. The shop assistant approaches her "You're on a mission!" she says.
"Yes, I need something stylish, sturdy and flat!" the subject replies, locking onto a pair of black slip ons, "These are good, do you have them in a 9?" (yes, I have rather large ones)
"Absolutely, they are fabulously comfortable!"
12:40pm: Subject sits and proceeds to take off her super sturdy, undeniably comfortable, but somewhat style challenged hiking boots in readiness for the newbies.
12.41pm: The shop assistant slips back through the stock room door, already unwrapping the shoes from their tissue paper. "A kindred," thinks the subject "she understands my haste."
The subject tries on the shoes, walks back and forth in the store. "Hmm," she thinks, "they look a bit masculine, not what I am going for."
12.43pm: "I'll get you to hold them for me, under Annie" says the subject "I'd just like to take a look at another pair elswhere."
"No problem, Annie. We'll hold them until the end of the day for you."
12.45pm: Subject enters store two. She's done her research, she knows what she is looking for. she spies them on the shelf, stylish, sturdy, flat.....and red. She snatches the lone shoe and takes it to the counter. "I'll have these in a 9 thanks!" She says assertivley, but friendly like, "Well, to try in a 9 anyway!"
The shop assistant dissapears out the back and comes back a moment later with the shoes. The subject, who, in the meantime has removed the clod-hoppers, proceeds to try on the shoes. she stands, she struts back and forth.
12.46pm: "I'll take 'em"
The shop assistant puts the transaction through while the subject re-ties the hiking boots. The red shoes are placed in a box, which is dropped into a bag and the transaction is complete.
12.50pm: Out of courtesy, the subject returns to store one to take the original shoes off hold.
"Sorry!" she says, approaching the extremely efficient shop assistant
"What are you sorry for?"
"I got shoes elsewhere! I had to, they were red!"
"Well, give us a look!"
Ok, so she is a retail assistant, but lets face it, at the end of the day, sale or no sale, every girl loves to look at shoes. Those that say they don't, are lying
"Oooh! They are gooorgeous!!!" the shop assistant gasps "Well done! No need to apologise!"
"Ooooh, lovely!" another girl walking past exclaims, "Very cute!"
Subject leaves store one feeling like she's made the right choice
12.53pm: Now, the subject requires some sustainance. Sumo salad? Line is too long. Sushi? Not today. UNdecided, the subject begins to panic. Perhaps the nay-sayers were right, perhaps it can't be done. But she dosen't give up. Taking a 45 degree angle and the pedestrian crossing puts her out the front of Hudsons.
12.55pm: "A chicken caeser wrap thanks"
"Toasted?"
"No, as it is will be fine thanks."
"$7.50, enjoy the rest of your day!"
12.58pm: Subject enters pharmacy, looking for lip balm as recommended by a workmate and anti-nail biting ointment. Anti-nail biting ointment located and purchased, lip balm, not stocked.
1.04pm: Subject walks back into the office, slightly wind-swept, a little warm, but basking in the glow of achievment. Shoes, lunch and a stop off at the pharmacy in 29 minutes.
And they said it couldn't be done!
12.35pm: Subject leaves office, nay-sayers shaking their heads, lunch releiver wondering if she'll manage to have her lunch break at 1:05, if ever.
12.38pm: Subject enters store one with a determined glint in her eye. The shop assistant approaches her "You're on a mission!" she says.
"Yes, I need something stylish, sturdy and flat!" the subject replies, locking onto a pair of black slip ons, "These are good, do you have them in a 9?" (yes, I have rather large ones)
"Absolutely, they are fabulously comfortable!"
12:40pm: Subject sits and proceeds to take off her super sturdy, undeniably comfortable, but somewhat style challenged hiking boots in readiness for the newbies.
12.41pm: The shop assistant slips back through the stock room door, already unwrapping the shoes from their tissue paper. "A kindred," thinks the subject "she understands my haste."
The subject tries on the shoes, walks back and forth in the store. "Hmm," she thinks, "they look a bit masculine, not what I am going for."
12.43pm: "I'll get you to hold them for me, under Annie" says the subject "I'd just like to take a look at another pair elswhere."
"No problem, Annie. We'll hold them until the end of the day for you."
12.45pm: Subject enters store two. She's done her research, she knows what she is looking for. she spies them on the shelf, stylish, sturdy, flat.....and red. She snatches the lone shoe and takes it to the counter. "I'll have these in a 9 thanks!" She says assertivley, but friendly like, "Well, to try in a 9 anyway!"
The shop assistant dissapears out the back and comes back a moment later with the shoes. The subject, who, in the meantime has removed the clod-hoppers, proceeds to try on the shoes. she stands, she struts back and forth.
12.46pm: "I'll take 'em"
The shop assistant puts the transaction through while the subject re-ties the hiking boots. The red shoes are placed in a box, which is dropped into a bag and the transaction is complete.
12.50pm: Out of courtesy, the subject returns to store one to take the original shoes off hold.
"Sorry!" she says, approaching the extremely efficient shop assistant
"What are you sorry for?"
"I got shoes elsewhere! I had to, they were red!"
"Well, give us a look!"
Ok, so she is a retail assistant, but lets face it, at the end of the day, sale or no sale, every girl loves to look at shoes. Those that say they don't, are lying
"Oooh! They are gooorgeous!!!" the shop assistant gasps "Well done! No need to apologise!"
"Ooooh, lovely!" another girl walking past exclaims, "Very cute!"
Subject leaves store one feeling like she's made the right choice
12.53pm: Now, the subject requires some sustainance. Sumo salad? Line is too long. Sushi? Not today. UNdecided, the subject begins to panic. Perhaps the nay-sayers were right, perhaps it can't be done. But she dosen't give up. Taking a 45 degree angle and the pedestrian crossing puts her out the front of Hudsons.
12.55pm: "A chicken caeser wrap thanks"
"Toasted?"
"No, as it is will be fine thanks."
"$7.50, enjoy the rest of your day!"
12.58pm: Subject enters pharmacy, looking for lip balm as recommended by a workmate and anti-nail biting ointment. Anti-nail biting ointment located and purchased, lip balm, not stocked.
1.04pm: Subject walks back into the office, slightly wind-swept, a little warm, but basking in the glow of achievment. Shoes, lunch and a stop off at the pharmacy in 29 minutes.
And they said it couldn't be done!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Happy Saint Lawrence Day - August 10th
We’ve heard of St Patrick’s Day and we are familiar with St Nicholas, the dude in the red suit, prevalent in Western society around December, but who the dickens is St Lawrence???
This is something dear to me, for a number of reasons. The most obvious being that Lawrence is the surname of my beloved, but it goes further than that. I work in archives and St Lawrence is the patron saint of Archives & Libraries. He is the patron saint of a lot of things actually and I have developed a bit of a “Saint Crush” (if there is such a thing) on this very diverse and groovy character! Let me tell you about him, you’ll have a “Saint Crush” too before long!
Living between 225 and 258 AD, Saint Lawrence (or San Lorenzo, he was Spanish after all) was appointed the “Keeper of the Treasures of the Church.” This was about maintaining the written records of the Church, but he was also supposedly in possession of a challis that is said to have been used by Jesus and the disciples at the last supper.
On August 8 258 AD, Emperor Valerian captured St Lawrence and gave him 2 days to bring to him the ‘treasures’ of the church. This meant all the goods of monetary value as well as a list of all the members who could be extorted for wealth. St Lawrence threw a spanner in the works, which ultimately cost him his life, but granted him martyrdom. He gathered together the lowliest members of the church. The crippled, diseased, poor and orphaned and brought them to Emperor Valerian and declared, “These are the treasures of the church.”
To say Emperor Valerian was a little peeved was an understatement. He got together a bunch of his mates and arranged a BBQ, but there was no need to BYO chops and snags, because it was Lawrence himself who was chucked on the grill.
In the face of adversity, St Lawrence kept a sense of humour. While he was lying on the grill, no doubt in absolute agony, he called out to his captors, "I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other." (I got that quote of Wikipedia, so accuracy cannot be guaranteed, but I thought it polite to reference!) To that end, Lawrie has also earned patron sainthood of comedians and barbeque's as well!
So on the 10th of August, go to the Library, chuck a BBQ, go see a stand up comic or donate to a worthy charity. Do it in honour of St Lawrence, a lovable larrikin of a Saint!
This is something dear to me, for a number of reasons. The most obvious being that Lawrence is the surname of my beloved, but it goes further than that. I work in archives and St Lawrence is the patron saint of Archives & Libraries. He is the patron saint of a lot of things actually and I have developed a bit of a “Saint Crush” (if there is such a thing) on this very diverse and groovy character! Let me tell you about him, you’ll have a “Saint Crush” too before long!
Living between 225 and 258 AD, Saint Lawrence (or San Lorenzo, he was Spanish after all) was appointed the “Keeper of the Treasures of the Church.” This was about maintaining the written records of the Church, but he was also supposedly in possession of a challis that is said to have been used by Jesus and the disciples at the last supper.
On August 8 258 AD, Emperor Valerian captured St Lawrence and gave him 2 days to bring to him the ‘treasures’ of the church. This meant all the goods of monetary value as well as a list of all the members who could be extorted for wealth. St Lawrence threw a spanner in the works, which ultimately cost him his life, but granted him martyrdom. He gathered together the lowliest members of the church. The crippled, diseased, poor and orphaned and brought them to Emperor Valerian and declared, “These are the treasures of the church.”
To say Emperor Valerian was a little peeved was an understatement. He got together a bunch of his mates and arranged a BBQ, but there was no need to BYO chops and snags, because it was Lawrence himself who was chucked on the grill.
In the face of adversity, St Lawrence kept a sense of humour. While he was lying on the grill, no doubt in absolute agony, he called out to his captors, "I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other." (I got that quote of Wikipedia, so accuracy cannot be guaranteed, but I thought it polite to reference!) To that end, Lawrie has also earned patron sainthood of comedians and barbeque's as well!
So on the 10th of August, go to the Library, chuck a BBQ, go see a stand up comic or donate to a worthy charity. Do it in honour of St Lawrence, a lovable larrikin of a Saint!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
It's OK people!
Andy and I haven't broken up! I have had a couple of people check this with me after my recent blog about closure. Everything is lovely still! Thanks for your concern! :-)
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