Standing Under the Mistletoe

With less than a week until Christmas I can not believe how fast this year has been and gone.

I nearly had a little panic attach on Sunday when I realised I only have a few days left to get everything for Christmas. I have gotten my Mum her present and gotten my brothers partner her present. What do you buy for your brother?

Video Game? Which one? Maybe someone else already got this one for him? I tried asking him a few questions about his present but he came out with silly answers like items that go over the set price we can spend on each other or items that are not possible. I want to get him an actual item as well cause vouchers are not as thoughtful as an item. Well I have Thursday off work so I will go join the Christmas shopping madness.

We had our work Christmas Party three Fridays ago and it was a real good afternoon. A mid afternoon lunch followed by socializing. But the best Christmas parties are the ones with your friends. On Saturday night we had some family friends around and then a friend of mine came and picked me up. It wasn’t exactly a planned evening, we went to a friend of ours house and then headed into Takapuna to hang out for a while then headed to the City for what turned into a night out. We meet up with our group of friends and had a really fun night. She dropped me home at six am and it was worth it. It was like an un planned Christmas party. The best part was my friend Matt was walking around with mistletoe and kept whipping it out of random couples and people. The expressions and reactions were classic!

This will probably be my last blog post for the year, so catch you in the New Year and make your Christmas as amazing as they have always been. Remember, Santa only comes to those who smile!

13 Questions

4 places I have worked
New World
Amtel
Corporate Christmas Party (that one night was the most work I have done in one night in my whole life)
School Tuck Shop

4 movies I could watch over and over
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Dirty Dancing
Save the Last Dance (a friend and I actually went and saw this at the Cinema's about 10 times when it was out)
Leathal Weapon (Series)

4 places I have lived
Albany, Auckland
Glenfield, Auckland
Beach Haven, Auckland
Rexburg, Idaho

4 of my favorite foods
Strawberries
Watermelon
MEXICAN
Carbs

4 places I would rather be right now
Rexburg
In Bed
On a plane going anywhere
At my besties house

4 things that scare me
Being alone
The Dark
Finding out that my life is actually the Truman Show
Telling people the things that scare me

4 things I don't understand
Mean People
War
Politcs
Why money doesn't grow on trees?

4 things I plan to do tomorrow
Make my bestie a birthday cake/birthday Cup cakes
Go for a walk
Complete my task list at work
Call my fave person in the world

4 things I want to do before i die
Have Children
Get Married
See the sun rise in Mexico
See the sun set in Greece

4 things I can do
Swim
Bake
Sew
First Aid

4 things I can't do
Snowboard
Surf
Play the Drums
Speak Spanish

4 things I miss
My Dad
My Host Family
My American Friends
Being a Kid

4 things I'd like to learn
Spanish
How to make proper Mexican food
What to buy people for brithday's/christmas when they don't know
My soul mates middle name

A National Tragedy

I was devestated when I went online yesterday before leaving work and read this article. I can not even to begin to imagine how the families and friends of miners are feeling. My prayers and thoughts go out to everyone effected by this disaster.

The other day one of the television programs a friend and I watch religiously was cancelled due the a press conference to do with the Pike River Mining Explosion. We sat there for a few minutes complaining until we took a moment and clicked to the fact that 29 families would most probably not be getting there men back. Their fathers, husbands, sons, brothers. The youngest was 17, it was his first day on the job. He was meant to start the following monday but begged to start early. Another had finished his shift two hours earlier but decided to stay and do over time.

It has hit the whole country. And it definatly was a different story when we thought that they might be going home. Today is the beginning of a new era for New Zealand. Where we know that mining accidents are possible. Where we know that cities can be torn up in a matter of minutes by earthquakes. Where we know that anything is possible and that bad stuff can happen to our little country.

Four Big Ones

This weekend gone it was Cooper’s birthday!

My fave little man is now four. It was just yesterday that he was born, clearly time flies when there are awesome people around you.

He had a Super Hero’s and Princesses themes party.

Cooper was dressed up as Superman, and I think if they are going to make another movie they have their top candidate right there.

The kids all played some ‘Pass the Parcel’…

And ate plenty of cake!

It was a fun afternoon and not one kid got upset. It ended with Cooper and Sam having a water fight with Coopers new water guns.

Sunday = Me, My Girls and Food

It started with a text “im thinkin u me & rach should have a korero & hang out this arvo?” (translation, I am thinking you, me and Rach should get together this afternoon for a catch up?”

I, of course, had only just woken, at 11am, and agreed. Three o’clock was the decided time and there were Dawson’s Creek re-runs on, but my attention was taken to the thought of yummy chocolaty, iced cupcakes. So I made some yum-yum-yummy cup cakes for me and my girls. I even backed them in cute cups.

After all this baking and icing I was feeling very domestic, I even washed the dishes straight after completing my backing (a new achievement for me). So I sent my mum down the road (I still needed to get ready for the day) for some cheese, pâté and French stick.

We spent a good few hours sitting out on the deck. Chatting, eating, chatting, eating, chatting, eating and then some more chatter.

It was the best end to a very good weekend that included Coopers 4th birthday.

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month

November already?!?! This year is just speeding by, it feels like it has only just been January. The next time I blink is it going to be 2011??

Well October was a busy month. Lots of birthday’s and not one free weekend.

The first two weekends I had friends birthdays and then on the 16th it was my friends Katy’s Hen’s Party. It was such a good night. We started with a Burlesque dance class, followed by dinner and games and then we went to a few clubs.

Last weekend was “Labour Weekend” so we got Monday off also. It was the perfect weekend. Sunny every day. I spent some time with my besties and then some more time with other awesome people. On the Sunday I went up to Snells Beach to see a good friend and spent the day sitting in the sun.

This weekend just gone its was my cousins husbands 30th Birthday Party. Halloween themed of course. I went dressed in a toga covered in blood and what a cool night it was. The decorations, the company, everything was great.

October was another great month and I can not wait for what November has set for me.

In the News Today

Now this just annoys me:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/natural-disasters/news/article.cfm?c_id=68&objectid=10678614

We are a very young country and have been trying for so long to keep the old historic items and we just have no luck.

This makes me sick:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10678914

How could anybody do that to another person.

I hope these parents are making these items private:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10678998

Anybody could use the images and details of their children.

This makes me smile:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10678943

I will have to take the kiddies to the zoo to see them when they are here.

Just felt like a tiny rant, so there it is!

NO!

What is this about???

The past few days we have have gorgeous blue skies and 18 to 20 highs with no rain and barely any clouds and hot beautiful sun and now they want to tell me it is going to rain on the weekend!!!

NOT COOL AUCKLAND! NOT COOL!

Summer is coming

Summer is one of my favourite seasons. No, it is my favourite season. I love the evenings being hot and the days being hot. I love how blue the sky gets during the day and then the orange/red/purple variations it can make in the evenings. I love spending time outside with my friends and family and I love the beach, which is never as lovely in the winter. I love going on picnics and adventures. I love the sun!

All photos taken from the balcony at my house.

Let’s Get Crafty

For a couple of years now I have been making birthday cards on the computer for a few of my friends when I have time and advanced warning. I love doing crafty things and always try to but never seem to “find the time” but this year I managed to make some cards instead of just making them on the computer. One for Lorren towards the beginning of the year and I have just finished one for Jenna who’s birthday is next month.  I never got a photo of Lorren’s one, but here is Jenna’s. (Sorry it is a wee bit blurry)

I am finding it therapeutic to sit on the ground (I like to say I am closer to nature sitting on the ground than I would be sitting at a table) and be crafty, even if it is just for an hour here and there. My biggest down fall is that the majority of my “crafty” projects can take ages due to my need to be a crazy perfectionist for selective things only.

When I get my own house I plan to have a room in it dedicated to crafts and sewing. I also want to decorate every room in the house, paint all the walls, have some cool patterns on the walls, have some of the rooms with painted roofs.

I have so many dreams but for now I am just going to focus on my “Become an amazing crafty person” dream and then we can work on the house thing.

The Sun Makes Me Crazy

It was so amazing last night. I finished work, walked outside and the sun was shining. I had been inside all day not even realising the most beautiful thing had arrived.

I love Spring/Summer, the beginning of those awesome months where you can stay outside late without having to put jackets and boots on. I love the shorts, I love the sandals/jandals, I love the weather. I love the clear blue skies!

I miss the heat when it leaves, so I pray for a long hot summer!

Someone doesn't know the meaning of spring!

So yesterday we all got warnings of a massive storm that is meant to be hitting over the weekend???

Since when did the start of spring begin with a storm?

Aucklanders have been warned by the local Civil Defense to stay away from beaches and off boats.

This is crazy. Although a weekend full of bad weather means a weekend of staying home and finally getting some of those items on the list checked off. Clean your bedroom, clean your car, have more than 5 hours sleep, finish your book.

More info about the coming storm in the article at:
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/7962337/new-zealanders-rug-up-for-icy-storm/

The Chop

I went from this…

to this…

in the space of an hour and I love it!

The Start of Something New

On Friday I sent off my enrolment form and course fees for a Nanny qualification course. It is a qualification recognized around the world and I plan to go traveling and nannying on the other side of the world with it, then once I have done my stint and feel like it is home time, come back and decide on either future education or just nannying.

I am pretty sure it means that for the next six months I will have very little me time to do me things as I am doing it by correspondence. So after those long stressful days of working I will go home and put some hard yards in to get to where I want to be, finally! It is scary, but quite exciting.

Hopefully my course work will arrive in the mail within the next two weeks so I can get going. I will need to put my procrastination away for a while and bring out the super organized, amazingly time managed side of me that I have never really met before. I know she is going to be awesome though as she is part of me.

I knew I would find a way to combine some of the many things I love and I can not wait to get back out into the world and do it while looking after some amazing kids.

I Had a Holiday… Part 2

After I had to leave Rexburg, I am still shedding a few tears, we flew from Salt Lake City to Vancouver, Canada.

I actually feel in love. I was only there for five short days but the city is just so indescribably perfect. In its own way.

I had to go to Tiffany & Co. – My favourite movie is Breakfast at Tiffany’s and although 5th Avenue NYC would have been pretty awesome, this was close enough and just as cool. I purchased a necklace that looks great and is going to be attached to me forever.

 

Canada Place – We started our little tour of the city from here.

A cool building – the railings to the balconies read “From here the clouds look no nearer than when I was lying on the street.” Or something along those lines. It took Mum and I about 10 times of walking past to work it out.

The something bridge, but also the little Tram-like-cart we were in for the tour.

Entrance to Granville Island – if you are going to go to Vancouver, go to Granville Island. Some cool market like shops and nice restaurants on the wharf.

Yale town – one of the districts in the city.

A cool old train or tram station. They used to drive onto the platform in the middle and it would turn so the train/tram would be facing its right shed and then drive in.

The Vancouver Library – shaped and made to look like The Coliseum in Rome.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens – He was one of the first Chinese diplomats to visit Vancouver so they crafted a house and garden after his.

It was a real experience, I went to China and Vancouver in the space of five days.

Going back to Idaho and then onto Vancouver was the best two weeks of my 19th year. I have the travelling bug and I am not going to try and get rid of that bug anything soon.

I need a holiday... Part One

So last week I was talking with my boss and I go, "Man I need a holiday." She looked at me and laughed. I have been so busy since I got back from America that I completely forgot I was ever on holiday. It also made me realise I have not posted anything about my awesome trip.

We arrived in Idaho on July 25 and left on August 1 to spend five nights in Vancouver.

It was so awesome that it is just to hard to sum up in words so I am going to sum it up with a few photos.

Second day in Idaho – mum driving to Rexburg

Day three in Idaho – Bear World. One of the coolest places I have ever been.

I completely fell in love with the bears. I even asked mum if she could drive extra slow so I could sneakily open my door, roll out and then spend the rest of my days with them.

Day four – On our way to Yellow Stone. This picture sums up to me what I think about when I think about Idaho – those big sprinkler thingamabobbies in middle of fields.

The toll gate to get into Yellow Stone National Park.

 

The Queue of traffic. It was basically this deep the whole way through. We only did one leg of Yellow Stone and it took us over half the day and I think the only animal I ended up seeing was a deer. But it is still a very amazing place.

Old Faithful Geyser. By the time it was ready to go off again the space in front of me was relatively full.

Just outside of Yellow Stone/Just before exiting on our way to Jackson where we stopped for some afternoon tea. I am gutted though because I never got any pictures of Jackson. Although mum and I said next time we come back we will spend a night or two in Jackson.

Just outside of Yellow Stone/Just before exiting a valley that a fire tore through a decade or two ago, the wind was so powerful that the fire managed to jump the river and took out thousands of trees.

Finally back in Idaho after 8+ hours of sitting in a car with about another two hours until we were back in Rexburg.

July 31 - Danielle and Dustin’s wedding was the actual reason we made the trip and it was one of the best weddings I have been to. She looked truly amazing and he looked like the happiest guy in the world.

That was pictures from the Rexburg,ID part of our ID/Vancouver trip so soon I will post the part about Vancouver.

Final Days of Being a Teen

Officially being an adult!? What is this all about? You can't just throw someone into the deep in without teaching them to swim, and no they will not float they will sink!

Na, I am actually looking forward to being the big 2-0! I am not exactly sure why, but I can only assume because it has the number two in it and I have been wanting to be two again since I turned three. But it is very weird because 20 is that big number you learn to count to when you're young and you could never imagine being 20. Two times ten! Four times Five! Oh well, as much as I have tried I can not stop the ageing process.

The last year has had it's moments. Some fun, some not so fun. So here it is, 19 things I did (that I had never done before) being 19:

1. Attended four weddings in one year

2. Visited Idaho (I was technically "living" there last time)

3. Met the coolest friend ever - Rach

4. Met Douche - My best guy friend

5. Visited Tiffany & Co.

6. Ate Pepperoni Pizza with my mother on Granville Island

7. Went to a Casino

8. Finished a full course of anti-biotics

9. Used Canadian public transport

10. Went to Vancouver

11. Went to Yellowstone National Park

12. Fell in love with Bears at Yellowstone Bear World

13. Lasted in a job for two years

14. Kept a plant alive for over a year

15. Went to a backpackers bar

16. Met my brothers girl friend

17. Bought an iPhone

18. Become a local

19. Found Cheeky Little Red - Amazing!

Well, that's that. It was hard trying to remember things and I look forward to the twenty I will have to thing of in 365 days time. I am having a four day weekend next week, although monday afternoon we have to go to the claims court it will be a lovely birthday. I plan to spend it with my friends at our local.

I am going to treasure these last few days of being a teen!

Oh June, How art thee?

So I realize I haven't posted anything in nearly a month. I have been meaning to...

Work is still the same. Its differs day to day but my organizational skills are getting better and the majority of the piles on my desk have been cleared, and yes it still counts if they have just been moved from eye sight. I have put in my planner when I am to see them again and fingers crossed, by this time next week I will never have to see them again.

The weather has been bi-polar. Or should I say "Rexburgian"?? We have had storms. Pouring rain for days on end. Chilling wind. Freezing, foggy mornings. Then all of a sudden we have some beautiful sun. OK, so it might still be bitterly chilly outside but from inside the sun is glorious.

We had Queens Birthday weekend the first weekend of June (5-7) and I was home alone. I also managed the put my back out on the Friday morning at about 6am, so I had a lovely pain fulled weekend home alone. I was however a domestic goddess. Cooking all my meals, cooking for friends, even breakfast on the Sunday morning. Cleaning. Isn't it funny how when you are told to only do light things you want to do the opposite of what you would normally and you clean?? Yes, I do not offer to clean all that often. Let alone cook all that often. Maybe it was the factor that it did not feel like a task.

Last Saturday night we, Jenna and I, baby sat my cousins twins. What a blast! So much fun and so tiring but I couldn't ask for anything better.

This morning I had to arrive at work at 6.45am for a launch. Holy Zeus! Can anyone say early?? Although it was very nice to see all the hard work some of the other departments have been putting in, I will not be volunteering to get up that early anytime soon. Tonight I am meant to be going out to catch up with some friend, arghhhh I need sleep!!!

Itinerary

The coolest thing ever just happened to me!
My Mum and I booked our flights to my little sisters wedding!

Our Itinerary is as follows:

Leave New Zealand for Los Angeles on July 25 at 5.15pm
Arrive in Los Angeles at 10.15 am on July 25
Leave Los Angeles for Idaho Falls via Salt Lake City on July 25 at 4.00pm
Arrive in Idaho Falls at 10.30pm on July 25

Leave Idaho Falls for Vancouver via Salt Lake City on August 1 at 5.00 pm
Arrive in Vancouver at 9.15pm on August 1
Leave Vancouver for New Zealand via San Francisco August 6 at 4.00pm
Arrive in New Zealand at 5.15am on August 8

It is going to be a fun 15 days and is going to be worth all the lack of sleep and travel.

I am most excited about seeing all my friends and am second most excited about the shopping.

Coopers Day

As you know I took last Wednesday off work to have my fave little man Cooper for the day.

I started my morning by setting up the table…

and making some colourful play dough.

Cooper arrived at 9.30 and we started our day. He was so excited, the second he arrived he ran to the table and was even more overjoyed when he saw the play dough.

He “made us food” with the play dough for ages. He had a load of fun and I have a slight feeling I had just as much, if not more.

But, as much as I loved taking pictures of Cooper having fun, he insisted his photo was not to be taken!

He even “told” me what to do!!

  He even took some of his own photos whilst I was making us “Basgetthi” and Cheese on toast for lunch.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day off spent with Cooper. We painted and drew and coloured and watched some television and went for a walk and had lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of fun.

On other news: Cheryl and her mother will be in the lovely town of Rexburg from July 26 2010 until August 1 2010 when they will be departing for Vancouver for 5 days.

Party with a posh accent!

What a lovely weekend!

It started off with a full body massage on Friday evening. Such an amazing way to start any weekend, I highly recommend it! They even massaged my ears and my little fingers.

Saturday we went to my cousins house for the twins 4th birthday party. That morning it had poured down and we sat their eating lunch saying, "oh goodness, I really do not want to go all the way to Dairy flat in this weather." Diary flat is farm land, so in bad weather you are likely to leave with a few souvenirs, mainly a back seat full of mud. However, it turned into a very nice afternoon. It even got a wee bit hot! All the little kiddies seemed to have a blast. They did painting and played games while I took hundreds of photos.

Lorren's birthday was on Sunday so we went for a High Tea at the Langham Hotel in the city. What an experience! It is quite a fun afternoon. You get two scones, six little sandwiches and five sweet treats each. Besides the scrummy food, the Hotel was beautiful. If I were a rich woman, I would stay there all the time. One of the other highlights of Lorren's birthday is that I made her birthday card, I am just slightly disappointed I did take a photo of my work.

Wednesday this week is D-Day for me. Cooper will have a blast! Last night I started Paper Macheing a balloon for him to paint and decorate and when I went shopping to buy some craft goods I found a pillow case with Light McQueen on it that he gets to colour in.

Quoters Corner.14

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." - John Adams

Side Note: My first friday quote post!!

Quoters Corner.13

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt." - Henry J. Kaiser

Quoters Corner.12

"Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." - William James

Another Goodbye

My Dearest Brother is leaving us again on Thursday. He is going back to Camp America for another summer. He was meant to leave April 13 to go to the UK but his trip got delayed due to the eruption of an Iceland Volcano. Now my theory on how they named this volcano is that they simply pulled letters out of a hat and put them together, because I know for sure I cannot pronounce it's name. Can you?

So, as my brother is on his way I have decided it is a good idea to spend some time with him. So last week on Friday night I had some friends around, we had girl talk down stairs while my brother watched the Rugby up stairs. Saturday night, my brother went out, my mother went out and I stayed home alone. But then last night, my mum, brother, our house mate Jenna and myself went to Gengys for dinner. It is an all you can eat Mongolian BBQ place. YUMMY!!! Tonight we are all staying in and Jenna is cooking and tomorrow night Jenna and I are throwing Mike a surprise goodbye Shindig! Should be fun.

Next Wednesday is my big arts and crafts day with my fave little man Cooper. I can not wait. I think I may be more excited than he is! I have a few ideas. One of them is to Paper Mache a balloon on Monday night and then get him to decorate it. Another idea I had was backing some muffins and letting him decorate one for him and his mum. Not really to sure... All ideas and more than welcome!!!

I did do some baking on the weekend though and I had a blast decorating them:

Chocolate Cupcakes/Muffins iced in pink and purple butter icing, some with chocolate buttons and sprinkles and all sorts!

PS. Hope the lovely mothers of the world had a wicked Mothers Day on Sunday!

Quoters Corner.11

"Unless I accept my faults, I will most certainly doubt my virtues." - Hugh Prather

Quoters Corner.10

"Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now!" - Michael Landon

Quoters Corner.9

"The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire." - Ferdinand Foch

Wellington

This past weekend I went down to Wellington with my mum. We went for my cousins wedding. I had a blast.

Wellington is a place I have visited countless times as my dad was born and bred there. It is also one of those places you always go to visit people, but you never really see it when you are there. This visit was the first time I have been to Wellington that I had spare time. We weren't going here and there to visit family every second we were there. Mum and I actually got to take some nice walks around the city, not having to hurry cause we had people to meet. It was awesome. I got to see Wellington as a pretty cool place.

We flew down on Friday morning and had lunch with some of my aunties and uncles before we went off and did our own thing. I have a friend who lives in Wellington, and another friend was down visiting her, so Friday night us three went out for dinner and then went for a drive up Mt Victoria. Amazing!! At the top you are way above Wellington and you look out over the majority of the Wellington region.

Saturday morning Mum and I went for a stroll around the city in search of some shoes for her and a book for me. We both managed to find what we were looking for. We then sat and watched "La Vie en rose" a film about Édith Piaf a french singer from back in the day. Quite an interesting film. Then Saturday afternoon we attended the wedding of my cousin. The ceremony was held St Mary of the Angels. An extremely beautiful church. Below is a picture of the outside of the church and the picture does the church no justice. The inside is breath taking. The reception that followed the ceremony was a fun night.

We came home Sunday afternoon and spent the rest of the day relaxing. It was a fun weekend spent away with Mum and I hope we do it again soon.

Quoters Corner.8

"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud and one the stars." - Frederick Langbridge

Quoters Corner.7

"You never will be the person you can be if pressure, tension and discipline are taken out of your life." - James G. Bilkey

Quoters Corner.6

"Your time is limited so don't waste it leading someone else's life." - Steve Jobs

Quoters Corner.5

''I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.'' - Pablo Picasso

Quoters Corner.4

''If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.'' - John D. Rockefeller

Just a note...

To me a blog without a game at the bottom of it is just a blog. On the other hand though, a blog with a game at the bottom of it is a super fantastically awesome blog! Ch-Ch-Check it out!

And only amazingly wicked people have games at the bottoms of their blogs! Cause we're cool like that!

Quoters Corner.3

''Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.'' - Goethe

Quoters Corner.2

''Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.'' - Norman Vincent Peale

Holiday

I, of course, had Friday off and I have not left the house since I got home on Friday morning. I am so relaxed. A much needed break. I love going nowhere and doing nothing, but me things/house things.

In my miniscule break I have fallen in love with writing again. I always used to write stories when I was in high school. I would spend my nights after school writing them, adulthood sure does take a lot away from a person. It is one of those moments when I wish I could be Peter Pan. However, at the same time you think about the future, children, etc.

I have started writing again and I love the never to be seen by the world material. It is so grammatically terrible and broken but it is mine. Maybe one day I will be able to write an epic novel that they will make movies, and then tv series about, but at the moment I am enjoying my own escape.

One thing I have realise today is that yesterday I did not post a quote, to me it was not a work day though so it does not count.

Well much love! Tomorrow is the last day of my “holiday” and I plan to enjoy it!

Can we Pretend?

This week I have another four day work week. I am taking tomorrow, Friday, off work to relax. I have a feeling that is not going to happen though. My room is the only room in the house that is not completely unpack yet, so I am going to (try) spend the morning unpacking my room and finding places to put all of my junk. Mum pointed out a very good fact on the weekend, I have more stuff than anyone else in the house. I had about 10 boxes come out of my room, then a big black sack of clothes and then a duffel bag full of clothes, then a wardrobe full of clothes and a big bag full of shoes. Spring clean time me thinks!

I have started posting a quote each day, OK so I only started yesterday, but I am going to post a quote each week day on my blog. Saturdays and Sundays are, meant to be, as computer free as I can possibly make then. Quotes are one of my fave things. They are like diamonds, worth so much in such a tiny little space. One good quote can make up for a lifetime of stupid acts and sayings. They are also good for procrastinators, us awesome people who need all the motivation we can get to get work finished.

My new favorite song at the moment is "Airplanes" by B.o.B ft Hayley Williams. It has been played approximately 50 times by me in the last two weeks.

Can we pretend; that my room is fully unpacked, that I can spend all day tomorrow doing me things, that my list gets shorter, that my list doesn't get longer; that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?

Quoters Corner.1

''The first principle of success is desire - knowing what you want. Desire is the planting of your seed'' - Robert Collier

Quoters Corner

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing" - George Bernard Shaw

A once upon a time, with a very different ending.

So I am sitting here at work with ten minutes until I go home, why not start working on my next blog post?? Naughty I know, but I have always been told to be productive with my time. I either be productive by playing solitaire for ten minutes, or by writing my blog for ten minutes. Pretty even in my mind.

I have been busy, busy and a bit more busy lately.

We move house tomorrow, so I have been packing... NOT! I have been doing the usual and socializing. Whilst packing very slowly. It is hard to pack, you find stuff you haven't seen in ages and start looking through it. Distraction, distraction, distraction.

I came across the book I wrote about nearly a year ago, Thirteen Wives, it was not as good as I thought it would be and I have not finished it. I have a funny feeling I will never finish it. To much cussing and so not my type of book. Also, a book I would NEVER EVER suggest anyone else read. It's loosely based on the Mormon church, but on a off cast cult of the church and It seemed very derogatory towards the main church and its followers.

A book I did finish was "The Lovely Bones", although I found it really hard to get into. But still a better read than the above.

This week I have been out to dinner twice, two days in a row. The first was Tuesday night for my Mum's birthday. We went to an all you can eat Mongolian barbeque place, so good. Asian food cooked right in front of you, and then the desert, yummy. Pancakes cooked right in front of you. Last night we went out to Lone Star for my friends birthday dinner. That wasn't to bad either. Although very over priced for the food, and service, quality.

Tonight I must go home from work and finish packing up my things. I doubt this will happen. If you google procrastinator your top result will be me. I just need to get it over with, easier said than done.

My brother leaves on Tuesday to go back to Camp America. He is heading to the United Kingdom first and then over to New Jersey. I won't see him again until October. As much as I say I am not going to miss him, I know I am going to be super excited when he comes back. We always grow closer when one or the other is away for a long period of time.

This weekend I have to unpack my room, help mum unpack the house, go to a friends birthday, drop a letter off with a friend, visit a friend to give her my old phone and her 21st birthday present, annoy my brother as much as I can before he leaves, take photos of my furniture and hair to share with Shelly, help mum clean the old house, go shopping to find some photo frames and photo albums, I think I should stop my list there, but it would probably be a good idea to write one out for my self. Time to get organized Cheryl.

FW: The Cab Ride

I just received this email and smiled.

The Cab Ride

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.

'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice.'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.

Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

I love cute stories, but I love meaningful ones more. It always brightens up my day to hear you don't have to act like the crowd, there is nothing wrong with being a truly genuinely nice person. This email was not a forward to 10 people and your wish will come true in 10 minutes, it read:

You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people. But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by sending it on and reminding us that often it is the random acts of kindness that most benefit all of us.

At the end of the email was this nice little saying:

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Put on your dancing shoes and make the most of it.

New News

I have purchased for myself a wonderful, loving IPHONE!!!

I am in love with it - it does everything I need it to do and more. I have had it less than a week and every day I have been going on to iTunes and seeing what apps I can get. I am loving some of the free ones.

On Thursday I got my haircut. I look as super cute as ever! It is shorter and I now have a fringe. I have been meaning to get one for ages and finally went in to book an appointment. An hour later I was a new woman, per say.

Quick note = I bought an amazing new handbag on the weekend. It is perfect.

Last night, we sold our house. Mum didn't get quite what she wanted from it. But she's happy to have it out of the way.

I didn't get that position I mentioned at work, but I have been told they will start training me for another position. The other position is much more exciting and more challenging. Project Management. I am really looking forward to starting it. Although it will always be the same process, there will be a variety of projects to make my life interesting.

Yesterday I started working on a new project that I will inform you about later. It's for my dad and is the outcome of some advice I received from a friend. Fingers crossed it works out how I hope it does! Realistically it will just be for me, but it is always nice to share with others.

My brother is off to England in a months time, and then he'll be jumping across the ditch to New Jersey for another summer of being a camp instructor. Maybe Mum and I will meet up with him if we make it to the US this year. The other day I was sitting at work looking out at the sun, and for a few (very short minuscule) moments I missed the snow, although it may have been the people I missed.

I am very thankful this week is very quiet. Last week was a very packed week. Sunday evening we went round to my cousins house for dinner, Monday evening was Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters Night, Tuesday we went to the Orbit Restaurant (a revolving restaurant at the top of the Sky Tower) for dinner with my Cousin and her partners family who were all up from Wellington for the Auckland Cup. Wednesday I caught up with a friend. Thursday we had a friend round for dinner. I finally got a night off on Friday so I wasted it by sitting in front of the TV, and then we had more people round for dinner. Hence why I am so thankful! It is also why I am going to stay at home every night this week, apart from Thursday and Friday. I need sleep!!!

An extraordinary time

They always say you don’t know what you’ve lost till it’s gone. They’re right. You do not know how much time you have let people consume of your life until they are gone. How much drama you have let yourself go through until they are gone. It hurts, but sometimes it is just easier to let someone go than to keep trying. Trying to keep them happy. Trying to make sure they are happy. Trying to make a friendship work on their terms.

How did this all happen? There is only so much a person can take until they decide it is not worth the time, the energy or the lack of sanity.

This may seem like a very deep and dark post. But it feels excellent to write in all down. The added relief.

Other than that I have been having a very nice time lately. I have applied for a position at my work that I would love. It is pretty much an entry level position in the area, but it would be an excellent stepping stone and amazing experience. I have caught up with quite a few old friends and been to some lovely parties.

I promise to give a better update later.

Later Days!!

Summer Lovin’

Two delightful weddings in fours weeks means a huge lack of sleep. Yes and two amazing brides, two handsome grooms, beautiful bridesmaids and dashing grooms men.

The first wedding was great, it would have been nice to have a weekend gap before the next Brides Hen Night but it just wouldn’t fit. Us girls spent the Brides “last night” as a single lady on a boat. We did lots of socializing, lots of dancing, played a few games and then got off the boat and headed into town for some more havoc. I managed to make it out in one piece, I do understand though that some of the ladies were a bit worse for wear.

The second wedding was eventful. The ceremony was stunning, another on a cliff top, looking out over the harbour. Following the ceremony all the guests made their way to the other side of the harbour for the reception while the bridal party hopped aboard a boat to be taken across. They didn’t make it. The boat got stuck 50 metres off the wharf and two hours later the bridal party were delivered to the reception by coast guard.

Once they finally arrived we finally got to eat! Starving was an understatement. The food was YUMMY, and the company wasn’t to shabby either. There were some laughs during the speeches and some stunning sentences. I had one problem with the night – Yet again I didn’t catch the bouquet!!!

Some of the bridal party and a few good friends stayed in the city that evening in a nice hotel, we partied till the early hours and woke up with 15 minutes until checkout. It was another weekend I will treasure for the years to come and it helped make February 2010 as great as the first two weekends.

Since the beginning of the year I have been going through my photos on my computer and choosing which ones to get printed. So far I have gone through my photos from my time in Idaho. I have gotten nearly 600 photos printed, my mission will be to put them into a photo album/photo albums. I’m not taking the word mission lightly in this case, I like certain things perfect in the weirdest way (even though I could win an award for the messiest organization), so once I collate the photos correctly I will then need to pick out albums, make name/date cards and so on, so forth etc. Wish me luck?

One Down, One to go

Brad and Lorren’s wedding was, I am sitting here right now to think of the word to describe it and I really can’t. It was amazing, beautiful, incredible, fantastic, awesome and I could go on, but I think you get the picture by now.

The ceremony was extremely intimate. We were on a cliff, pretty much and facing the ocean. The celebrant had previously sat down the Brad and Lorren at separate times and got them to tell her why they loved the other, one of the most precious expressions I have seen be given.

The bride looked stunning, the maids awesome and the grooms men looked handsome as they come.

The best mans speech was brilliant. He said some of the funniest things I have heard in a while. He gave them a few tips for the future. By far the best was, “Don’t fart on each others pillows… You’ll get pink eye".” He had us laughing for ever.

On an even greater note, I must say, I looked freaking fabulous! That was of course until our 1 am swim when my make up ran and my hair got that salty feeling.

Well until next time – the future’s close, but now is even closer.

The Long Weekend

This week is finally over and I spent the day relaxing. Work was only a half drag this week, which is a complete turn around to the last couple of weeks. I got myself going and got my work done, it actually felt good to know when I go into work next week I won’t be swamped with work.

This weekend is Auckland Anniversary weekend, so all us Aucklanders get Monday off work, which for most only means a four day work week. But for me it will only we a two day work week. My good friend is getting married next Friday, I thought I had only applied for the Friday off work but apparently I applied for the Thursday and Friday. So I will be having two long weekends in a row, very exciting.

Following next weekend, I will be going to my cousins Hens Night on Saturday 13 February and then her wedding the following Saturday, so I have a slight feeling my poor blog might be neglected for a few weeks.

Below is a picture from last Saturday when I went to my friend, who is getting married next Friday, Hens night, sadly she is not in this particular photo. It was plenty of fun, we went on a vineyard tour, played some games and then went to town.

Jaime, Lisa and Me

I have done some, what have you done?

So while wandering through some blogs this evening I came across the below list and thought a nice junk post is just what my wall needs. I always find these sorts of things interesting as it is a fast and easy way to learn some interesting and sometime basic, or not, things.

Bold the items you have done:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Yet Another Decade

I have neglected this blog for the last couple of weeks and I apologize. However, I thought seen as it is the start of a new decade I had better show my blog some love.

I has been an interesting last ten years and it really did finish with a bang.

Three days before Christmas my dad passed away very suddenly. It was hard but I am sure we will get through it. I will miss him dearly, forever.

I have thought about my goals for this year, but thought I had best reflect on my goals from last year before sharing this years.

2009 Goals:

• Finish Personal Progress
  • I started working on finishing my personal progress but never got it finished. I have decided not to include this in my 2010 goals but will continue to use the values I have learnt in my day to day life
• Read more books
  • I read two books last year. I started a few more but never finished them, they did not keep my attention. Towards the end of 2009 I started reading ‘The Lovely Bones’ so I will finish reading that this New Year
• Finish NCEA paper
  • I never completed this and will not be completing it
• Look into University Courses*
  • At the beginning of the year I looked into Computer courses at the local University. Toward the end of the year I was looking into Early Childhood Education courses through correspondence. I will see what opportunities I get offered through my job this year and then see what I decide
• Buy a Laptop
  • I brought a laptop about a month after deciding to have it part of my 2009 goals
• Finish one book
  • I finished my first book of 2009 in April
• Clean out room – Organize
  • I kept my room relatively clean and organized throughout the year
• Lose 5kgs / exercise more
  • This goal was completed to the T. I lost 5kgs last year through a process of eating better and exercising more. In the last 4 months of the year I was walking 2 to 3 nights a week with my good friend
• Learn another Language*
  • I never looked into this. I think I may keep it in the pipeline for later on
• Save $200 a week of my pay*
  • I saved nearly every week and purchased items like my car and laptop with the money

So that was what I did and did not accomplish out of my 2009 goals. However, 2010 is a New Year, and new decade and a new set of goals.

Goals for 2010

Read 10 books

Visit Dad at least once a month

Get down to goal weight

Go back to the US or plan for next year

Exercise at least twice a week

Save $200 a week

Buy world map to plan 2013 O.E.

Pay off furniture and TV

Buy bookcase

Get Ring!

So that is what I plan to achieve in the coming months. I’ll keep you up to date on how it goes.