My Boo-Boos

At indoor netball I hurt my kneeses. And my finger. My flatmates have given me remedies. But I is still sore.

It hurts to type. But I'm breaking through the pain barrier because I'm brave. And tough.

Since I stopped icing my finger it has swollen a lot more. It has a bump. Washing my hair will be hard. Putting my car into reverse is hard also.

December Already

Things keep rolling on.

I went to Toast Martinborough for the first time. I thought the wine would be cheaper.

I went to the Eastbourne and Thorndon fairs. Fair fudge.

I went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The transvestite guy was good.

I did a quiz at Chicago. We should listen to Morgan more often - he is a Da Vinci Code expert.

I had some christmas lunches already.

I had a birthday.

I watched a sexual thriller with Rich.

I sat underneath the christmas tree and looked up.

I went to the Downsies group. We danced like Abba.

I have been eating lots of strawberries, peas and beetroot salads.

I discovered pear cider and elderflower cordial.

* * *

Today my class debated the moot 'That social networking is good for friendships'. I wanted the negating team to win. It seemed a more interesting case. They didn't.

* * *

For my birthday I got three of my Pete-prints framed properly. In white frames. Apparently they are ready so I can go pick them up tomorrow. Fun.

* * *

A game I often play with myself is the where's-that-from game. I'll look around my room and try to find as many things as I can that are from my childhood, or gifts from people or things I've bought myself.

Anyhow, one of my favourite things from my childhood is a vase that I have. It has tulips painted on it in bright summery colours. At the Thorndon Fair I saw a fundraising calender for sale and my jug was on the cover. It was a calender of jug photos. I tried to find out more about my jug, but there were no additional details.

I had always imagined it was a one-off, so this was a surprise.

My Review of 'Ghost Writer'

The film ends with a key moment of revelation that involves a boolean search on Google.

Enter potential baddie's name + CIA and see what comes up.

I think if a world conspiracy could be solved by a computer literate ten year old, you wouldn't need to make a thriller about it.

Polanski seemed to just give up on subtlety more and more as the film went on. I won't even mention the final scene.

And just because you can cast Kim Cattrall in a serious role, doesn't mean you should.

On the plus side, it was nice aesthetically and Ewan McGregor was ok, as was the wife.

* * *

And I saw The Room again. It wasn't as funny this time, but I did enjoy being able to join in on all the interactive bits. I threw a lot of spoons and yelled, 'But he's your best friend!' and 'Oh, hi Denny!' a few times. And we still don't know why they were all in tuxedoes, or what happened to Peter.

It is still wondrous how Tommy threw the whole movie together in quite the way that he did. I think most of the audience might have been film students - the movie is a wonderful teaching tool on how not to write a narrative and dialogue.

My dad got tickets to the Leonard Cohen concert on a whim. He asked me if I wanted to go. I said 'no thanks' just because I felt like saying no. I would not be so easily placated after his stand-ups of late. I'm on a family-strike. And I don't like Leonard Cohen $120 worth (and my dad should know that).

Then my brother rang me to ask what the plans were, and he sounded pretty good. And I haven't seen my brother in ages. I didn't realise he was going.

And then I heard it was a great concert.

And maybe I should've said yes.

Dad took me and my brother to Michael Jackson and Bob Dylan and Elton John concerts. It's his 'thing'. Maybe that was him trying to say 'sorry - I should do more stuff with my own kids, as well as my step-family'.

Maybe he was disappointed when I didn't go. Maybe we're even now and I got a bit of bad karma by missing a good concert because of my sulking.

Or maybe it had nothing to do with me and it was just a concert and it was just some tickets. It's hard to know sometimes. I doubt my dad over-thinks things like that, anyhow. He's a guy.

My new sneakers are still awesome. By the way. I didn't want to buy 'netball' shoes on principle (I ain't no netballer) but it may have been a good recommendation by the pushy shop lady. My team-mate even commented on how bouncy they looked. (At first I thought she was only pointing out how new and white they looked, which was a fair comment - they glow like Michael Jackson's socks!)

I like my team this season - I'm mainly playing high post so I've become a jump-shooter again. In this grade they don't really defend high post too closely so I get heaps of open shots. One time I even shot a turn-around shot in rhythm (though that was in the low post.... but came from my increased shooting zen). Haven't done that in ages! The grade we were in last season was way too good - I was pressured and double-teamed pretty much every time I got the ball and hardly shot at all.

Now I'm a lazy-ass elbow-shootin' high-post again. The way I like it. I'm really quite a terrible low-post player.

We played a Chinese team tonight that had three ex-students of mine in it. I coached two of them in the Senior-B when they were at school. In the end we beat them pretty soundly with only six players..... That could partly be a sign of how rubbish my coaching was :)

* * *

I was all set to finish marking the drafts my students emailed me after school, and then go watch X-Factor....

.... when the last one I read through was full of stuff I suspected was plagarism. Grrr. Takes ages to try and prove plagarism if it's even reasonably clever. There goes my TV watching time.

DAMN YOU, GOOGLE! ONE DAY YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND, THE NEXT DAY YOU'RE MY ENEMY.

* * *

My cooking experiment has continued.

I made a chicken pilaf thingie with cranberries and pine nuts and white wine.

The first attempt tasted fine, but the rice was a gluggy mess (apparently not quite the texture I should've aimed for - it had perplexed me when the recipe said to 'fluff it up' and mine was a gluey hunk ..... and the chicken was bleeding a bit when I first cut into it.....). It passed for a bad risotto better than it passed for a pilaf.

The next attempt, however, was pretty awesome. I forgot to take a photo though, so you'll have to take my word for it. Good texture in the rice, I added the cranberries sooner so they plumped up better and the chicken was cooked just right.

See, my strategy is to buy enough for the whole recipe but only cook a half-dose each time. Gives me a chance to improve. Does mean I have to eat the same thing three or four nights in a row.....

BUT TAKE THAT, PILAF! You are now in my repertoire.

I got a 'Best of 85' mix CD from The Warehouse. It's full of classic syth-rock angst. It's got A-ha and Billy Idol.

Then in the middle of all that it's got 'I'm Walkin' on Sunshine'. I thought that was a bit of a weird and lame addition to my grunty car CD.

But.... to my surprise.... I am LOVING that song! It's the absolute best morning song. I love going to work after listening to it! The intro rocks.

I have it on repeat.

And don't it feel good!

* * *

I haven't come across anyone in my circles that isn't happy with Wellington's new mayor.

* * *

My new sneakers haven't given me blisters.

And I sneak around in them.

* * *

I made zucchini fritters from my recipe book. It's my new signature dish.

Paul Henry Rant - Victory for the People

I'm feeling quite chuffed that Paul Henry resigned.

In my mind he was fired (it makes me happier - I picture him being pushed down the plank to the sharks in the press gallery).

I think that it's unacceptable to make such public and blatantly racist remarks in any profession. I wouldn't even let school kids get away with making those comments without a wee lecture. A grown man has no excuse left. He knows exactly what he's doing and it's arrogance rather than a lack of self-control or a naive kind of ignorance that is the issue.

It boils down to some sort of public bullying. I think people who defend him with lines like 'he's only saying what most people think' forget that even if lots of people think those kinds of things they would express them in a more private context. A public forum (not to mention one governed by Standards and a Charter) is a situation that demands more discretion. It speaks for more than one person's opinion.

And what a public broadcaster deems as acceptable banter for its light-hearted morning shows is an indicator of what's acceptable banter for NZ society. It's not some extremest niche channel and it's not an adult-only time-slot. There is no warning saying 'content may offend some viewers'. There are gonna be kids watching.

And he's not a fictional character set up as a foil for a moral protagonist - he's a real person who writes his own scripts (or at least the ad lib bits, which is where he gets in trouble).

A few people I know (on Facebook mainly) have defended him - saying it's freedom of speech. I think freedom of speech is fine - but it has to exist on some kind of continuum with censorship. We do live in a world that tries to be civilised. Human nature is such that to be civilised we do need some rules and standards. People are flawed and lack self control and empathy.

Censorship steps in where people's emotional safety is threatened and freedom of speech comes into conflict with rights protected in the Bill of Rights. I might not have that exactly right, but it's essentially what makes us different from America (they have nothing that is higher than their freedom of speech - we do). In the case of TV it's the Broadcasting Standards Authority that steps in if something is not 'decent' or is 'offensive'. In reality, it is a body that doesn't have much teeth. It can make you publicly apologise.

A much more powerful tool in the age of capitalism is consumer demand. I think anti-Paul-Henry-ites were smart enough to see that the real way to TVNZ's heart was complaining to advertisers and threatening to boycott the other TV1 shows. While a lot of the people who were offended by Henry probably didn't even watch Breakfast, they make up a bigger percentage of the One News audience.

I think it's a sad thing that you have to go for the ratings-jugular in order to get a real reaction. It would be kinda nice if a bunch of people saying 'Oi - this guy is a racist jerk, take him off the air!' was enough but moral righteousness is very muffled in a consumer driven economy until it turns into some kind of dollar force. TVNZ does have a commercial impetus that is increasingly over-riding its cultural one.

It'll be interesting to discuss with my classes tomorrow, see what 'the youth' thinks.

Essentially he's the kinda guy that would've pissed me off at high school. In my experience, most of those guys have matured since then. Maybe not all. Arrogant git.

I wonder if Fox News is looking to hire...

Fixed a fuse all on my own.

And waterproofed some shoes (all these years I've never done it - I feel like a savage).

* * *

Yesterday my hands were really blue. I thought maybe it was my bad circulation. Thought maybe another fainting spell was coming on.

Was mildly concerned. Kept rubbing my hands together to warm them up and get circulation back.

Then I cooked dinner and they seemed to come right.

Then they turned blue again. Just as I was pointing out my blue hands to my flatmate I realised I had them palm down on my jeans. My new jeans.

New dark blue jeans = smurf hands. Apparently.

I cooked. Proper food. Using a recipe.

Kumara mash, sage and garlic pork steak, green apple and red onion salsa.

That's quite an effort for me!

* * *

It's fun seeing all the different types of dogs along Petone's foreshore. Today there was an Alsatian and a doberman and lots of others. Cassie's dogs are the bravest and busiest.

* * *

I think deers are the new owls of the fashion world.

* * *

I haven't quite convinced my head I have to go back to work on Monday. I still feel like it's holidays. I like being a lady of leisure. I stay up late, get up late, coffee a lot, read things. It's all very unstressful.

* * *

I like this time of year. I love my jandals. 7pm doesn't seem so late anymore.

* * *

I am not well informed enough to care who won the election. I like that John Banks lost.

* * *

Me and Michelle wanna do run-around stuff in the weekend. Like tennis. Or even Frisbee. It's kinda nice enough weather now. Might organise a Saturday avo tennis outing some time. I'm feeling suitably unfit, following my winter hibernation period.

* * *

If you see Cassie, she will preach to you about the fries at the Empire. Belgian fries, they're called, with mozzarella and gravy (a whole pool of it at the bottom of the bowl).

* * *

I have finally taken my camera in to get fixed (yes - that's why there have not been oodles of facebook photo tags of you and me in the last few months). I will hopefully be back and snapping away soon.
* * *
I always feel guilty going into shops and trying stuff on, but then not buying anything.

Hence, I must always buy something! Every shop I go into!

Something like that.

Today I bought heaps. It was my holiday blow-out.

• summer work shoes (my other slip-ons are actually starting to disintegrate from so much wear)
• sneakers (my other ones have so little grip that my feet totally slipped from under me at netball, like a cartoon character, I assed over)
• salon shampoo

Thus ends the list of things I actually needed to buy for practical reasons.
The shoes were $20 off because I have giant feet (apparently they discount size 11s so they can get rid of them since not many people have sasquach feet). And they threw in a pair of free ortho sandals (which are ugly as sin and I will never wear them - anyone need/want them?).

• a red sweater (I love red tops - they go awesome with jeans)
• a black dress (Ashley Fogel - down from $320 to $130 - my favourite purchase of the day - love the sale rack at Miss Wong and the fact that only trendy, skinny people shop there so big sizes often get left over)
• jeans (down from $175 to $70 - bargain - the shop lady said, 'We get these in for ladies with wider hips' - go Sable and Minx! - another score at Miss Wong)
• two necklaces (Goodness has super expensive clothes, but reasonable jewelry - a tip for keen shoppers - one has a picture of a deer on it, the other has a bow)

Thus ends the list of things I didn't 'need'. But, so be fair, all the clothes were on sale racks.

Though jeans are never a bad purchase. These ones are exactly like some other generously-hipped ones I have from the same brand, but a darker denim (and evidently pocket-less).


* * *

I am now hanging out for a reasonable time to buy my take-aways. Japanese night!

Japanese is practically not take-aways because it is so wholesome.

That's what I tell myself.

Basketball coaches from high-school should not be allowed to drag up unflattering teenage photos and put them on Facebook. It should be illegal.

You think you've buried those photos, then things like this happen (on top of your dad dragging them out at your 30th).

* * *

It's a tricky thing when a cafe expands. Parade has moved across the road, to the old tug-boat. It's lost its claustrophobic feel and you no longer have to queue out the door.

But for some reason today there were only middle-aged rich women doing luncheons and couples in matching Country Road outfits there. Maybe not quite the hip demographic I'm used to?

You can't lose with an ocean view though.

* * *

Cassie treated me to a double-birthday beauty afternoon. We got eyebrow shapes and tints, eyelash tints, a full body massage and mani and pedicures. I feel pretty now! Oh, so pretty.

That's my first full body massage. I was trying to not picture what she could see when she was doing the upper-thigh thing (that involved much jiggling). Definitely my least favourite body part. Felt much better when she unclasps my bra and moved onto the back.

Then I got Barbie-coral-pink nails (I'd asked for something subtle...) but I'm embracing them. I'm doing a whole pastel-look for the week. It's funny how our body can sense even microscopic changes. It felt really weird typing when I had just got home with my new nail polish on. Now the end bits are starting to chip away, so it feels normal again.

Then there's the comedic duck-walk you have to do when the toenail polish is drying, with the folded up paper towel between your toes.

Totally indulgent and a scrummy present. Thanks, Cass! It's good to be a girl. I've never liked my toenails more.

* * *

I'm into Series 3 of Mad Men - rocketing through! That Don Draper is a card.

It's really well made. I'd say I like it more than The Wire, which is smart but kinda bracing to watch at times. This show has the comedy as well as the darker bits. But it does the dark so well. While a lot of American shows are about building up chemistry between characters until they hook up, this one is more about the disintegration of relationships. Much more interesting to watch!

It has little cut-away scenes with no dialogue that are just meant to build up characters. Most shows wouldn't bother doing that. And the climaxes can just be little glances, rather than tad-dah moments. Betty Draper is interesting. On one level she's totally unlikeable - a horrible mother (sends the kids to watch TV most of the time) but kinda brave in her own way.

She's just found out Don's big secret (which has been building since series 1), so I must get back to watching!

* * *

I wonder how many other people have a PIN number on their ATM card that has a link to their teenage self. Mine's definitely teen-me. And that's all I'm saying, so nobody can rob me.

* * *

It's a sad, sad day when the Glee cast beat a Beatles record on the charts. Teenagers are morons these days. IT'S ALL AUTO-TUNED! ALL OF IT! AND THE ORIGNALS ARE WAY, WAY BETTER! It makes me angry.

Also Chris Carter makes me angry for saying his travel expenses were only focussed on 'cause he's gay. I think (from what I saw at the time) anyone who spent exhobitant amounts on their spouse travelleing was publicly called out for it.

That only person who ever seems to make an issue out of him being gay is himself. He's grasping at straws, or the media is purposely pushing that line of his into the headlines (which I guess would be the most homophobic thing happening).

* * *
And here are the only clues Cassie's giving me about my 'birthday surprise' tomorrow:
You will need to bring jandals

Have something to eat beforehand but not too much as you may feel ill later.

Shaving your legs and armpits could be an adavantage to make you more comfortable but if you run out of time...no real biggy

No makeup

Bring yourself and be excited...its going to be fun :)
Hmmmm. I think I'm going to be a model for a body-painter? That would be the weirdest present ever.

I love google-doctoring. I diagnosed someone at work with 'house-wive's knee' and figured out what kind of eczma I have on my hand and a cyst I had.

My latest google-doctoring has diagnosed me with Vasovagal Syncope. It's a fancy way of saying 'fainting'. I fainted for the first time ever on Friday. Having researched it (initially thinking it could have been a seizure, since I was shaking for 30 or so seconds) I realise I've almost fainted lots of times. Same signals.

This time I just ignored them for too long. It was an 'awkward' circumstance in which to faint.

Kinda funny though. Way more interesting than just fainting at the sight of blood (which doesn't bother me too much).

But thoroughly inappropriate to mention in a public forum.

It's a bit stink though - I liked being able to say I'd never fainted. Sounds way tougher.

* * *

Getting into BBQ season. Awesome! Cider time.

* * *

I have some buzz-bars in the freezer. Haven't had a frozer buzz-bar in ages. They're awesome.

* * *

I'm liking advertising at the moment. Watched this great multi-part doco from BBC on the history of PR and advertising (starting with Freud, moving into cigarette advertising and ending with recent election campaigns). Watch the Gruen Transfer most weeks. And have watched the first two seasons of Med Men.

Advertising is evil (which I realised as a Marketing major at uni) but fascinating.

Strike Rules

With reports due this morning, today is the perfect day to have off! I got to sleep in and finish off the final touches (tallying all the days absent) from the comfort of remote-connection.

* * *

Rugby World Cup. Bleh.

* * *

Getting my hair cut today - going to try to not have a repeat of last time (which I have been in trauma about for five months, having been determined to get it 'longish' before going under the chop again). Trying a place I got a cheap voucher for on a 1-day sale site.

* * *

At work me and one other have started what will hopefully be a trend. We each bought a 10-coffee card from a one-day sale site (I got 10 coffees for $10 from Estadia). We used them to shout people in our department mass coffees. I randomly bought back 6 coffees on Monday (they even let me get soy at no extra cost!). And 10 of us went out for lunch at Babylon yesterday, with free coffee for everyone.

I'm not even a huge coffee fan - but I like things that are practically free!

Craft afternoon was fun. I didn't craft anything. I ate some nice snacks though. And drank some nice wine. And had a lively debate about the difference between pink and red.

I took Charlotte (almost-2) to the supermarket to get extra supplies. On the way I splashed her when I jumped in a puddle. Then I let her carry the basket in the shop (she dragged it behind her and took up half an aisle somehow). And got lollies. LOLLIES!

Shopping as it ought to be.

* * *

Sam's birthday dinner was grand. He knows lots of good people (and Jon). I'm not sure why, but dropping icecream in Jon's wine and smashing up model-planes were important activities at the time.

Me, Michelle and Jon went to Molly's. They had a guy playing the piano and singing upstairs. We sang along with him, very loudly. I think we were his favourites. He told us to come back next week. (It was either our singing or the $20 tip Jon gave him.... I'm opting for our awesome back-up vocals.)

Sing us a song, you're the piano-man, sing us a song tonight

* * *

I'm a bit of a shopping-snob. I haven't been to Glassons in a long time. Holy cow, it's cheap! Maybe I should open up my mind a little.

Stink buzz.

I hate it when people get told off in front of you. I hate it when those people are colleagues and they are being told off like they're little kids.

I witnessed this today - a first year teacher being told off by his TIC. I felt horrible for him. My HOD would never in a million years have talked to any of her department like that.

This person was someone I already didn't have a lot of time for. Though she's a great teacher, she has a few things to learn about sensitivity. And she has a piercing voice.

* * *

The first of my good friends from school has turned 30. June 25th. She's a captain in the army, almost a major. To be honest I haven't seen her for .... years. Maybe seven years or so. But she's one of those people you can just pick up with like nothing's happened. She's been busy serving and Timor and whatnot. It's understandable. They made her a cake in the army caf....though she didn't order them to do it. She didn't order the Code Red either [her joke, not mine].

Her dad was in the SAS.

* * *

I am tired now. I might go to bed. Early! Man, winter sucks.

* * *

This is the first year I've had a car during the winter time. I have noticed three things

1. The windows fog up lots. Vision can be impaired.

2. One morning there was ice on the window and I had to get warm water to get it off.

3. The heater takes a little while to kick in - usually not until I'm in the middle of the tunnel. By the time I get to my destination I don't want to get out of the car again. Too cold!

* * *

The beanie has come out. That means it's really really winter.

* * *

We have used the heater heaps. Power bill will be astronomical.

Sex and the City.

Every girl must have her crew of friends who remind her of the group in 'Sex and the City'. Those shots in the opening section, with the four of them walking along the street in their 'going out' clothes reminded me of my long-gone 20s. Back then we used to go out at least once a weekend, spend an hour (at least) getting ready, have a few pre-drinks at home....

Ahh, the memories!

I went to the film with Cass and Ange (my girl crew) and a lot of it rang true. So we don't wear couture and our city is Wellington, not New York, but there were all kinds of things that we would nudge each other about in recognition.

In a perfect touch, Ange bought us each a designer cupcake from some store in the Old Bank Arcade - each of which came in a little box with a ribbon on it (and was apparently chosen to reflect our personality in some way). They were gorgeous and totally something Carrie and the crew would love.

A couple of characters went through breakup trauma, which we've all had, one had an incident that I could liken to Cassie's food poisoning and they were all just looking for the same kinda thing we'd all like.

Anyhow.... I quite liked the experience. Probably wouldn't have liked it as much without my friends there though. I think at the bit where Charlotte gives Mr Big the evils and says 'Leave her alone!' and where she's planned what she'll say next time she sees him, we all thought that's what we'd do for each other. There were moments where that girl-loyalty was epitomised. It's nice how your friends rally for you in a crisis!

And of course, you have to cast yourself in each role. For us, Cassie was the obvious Samantha (though she'll dispute that). Ange has a bit of the Miranda spirit in her, but mostly suits the role because of the red-head thing (she was inspired by a lot of the clothes and colours Miranda got away with). That left me to be Charlotte - the dark haired, idealistic (slightly prudish) one. I like that! I think all three of us have a bit of the Carrie spirit in us. Ange has the flair for drama, I have the same laptop-hovering tendencies and Cassie is the hub.

I quite liked some of the things Big did for Carrie - though I'm still an Aidan fan at heart.

Certainly one to see with your girl friends - or wait til it comes out on DVD if you are a boy with too much shame to be seen out with the women :)

Prunes are awesome. I discovered snack-sized packs of prunes.

* * *

School's out for Winter

Yay. I have been holding out for today for nine weeks (approximately).

I have sore lungs. When I breathe they hurt. It's not asthma. I think it's something to do with all the pollutants in the tunnel. I noticed it last night at basketball, and it's gotten worse this afternoon. So I need a couple of weeks of not having to walk through there. Should cure me. Hopefully.

I am tired.

I can't write big sentences.

Only little ones.

Like this.

Bye.

Y'all come back now, y'hear?

The rotting fish has been removed from the front doorstep. Not by the person who left it there for a week, mind you. The stench remains, despite much disinfectant and washing powder being applied.

One of the other flatmates also relented and bought a light bulb for the toilet.

All is good. For now. My missing brown towel even mysteriously reappeared in the bathroom, soaking wet. I nabbed it and will never let it out of my sight again.

Random Question of the Day:
#823 Blondes, brunettes or redheads?

My answer:
Brunettes all the way! Dark hair = manlier. Blonde hair = pretty boy in a boy band. Redhead = Ange's brothers (both of them!).

By jingoes, it's a watermelon!

This week was fairly untraumatic (partly due to me putting off reports until next week).

Monday - holiday (sleep in, do school work in bed)

Tuesday - so long ago I forget what happened, but there was no DWTS (I substituted with House and Boston Legal, though I got so annoyed with the unsettling camera-work of the latter that I ditched it and watched some Gilmore Girls instead)

Wednesday - sports exchange in the sunny Horowhenua (get to wear sneakers to work that day and be smug and city-like to all the local hicks)

Thursday - netball tournament at school where I got to go see all my little ones play in their chosen team uniform (pjamas - one girl even wore a dressing gown and played centre in it - that's the most proud of been of my form-class all year)

Friday - had a guest speaker in from the OFLC (love guest speakers - they give out free pens and I don't have to do anything all lesson) and reffed a basketball game that made me glad to be teaching where I am (there's something offputting about girls who are up by 30 points and still make faces at me and yell out when they think I've missed a foul call but you have to feel sorry for them because their school could only afford to build half a basketball court and put a hoop at either end and could only put numbers on the back of the players' shirts so I had to keep tapping girls on the shoulder and asking them to turn around when I called them for fouls)

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER

Oh yeah, and here's the social event of the week - dinner out with the old posse. Cassie and Ed joined forces to organise a bunch of us out to dinner at Eastern Sunrise. The food was your average Asian fare but when you put anything on a lazy Susan it's F-U-N. I got some Givertz (gonna spell that phonetically) wine. It worked well. I think Ryan was filling up my glass every time I looked away - either that or three glasses of wine is all I need to get a little loud and tipsy these days.

Ryan, bless his little heart, sat there and chatted away merrily whilst eating his protein bar (and nothing else) and sipping on his one Diet Coke. That's the spirit! He's bulking up and trimming down for a body-building comp in late September. Mark your calenders, folks! We had a lengthy discussion about fruitcake.

Ed was there with his special ladyfriend. It's worrying that she seems nice and normal - not at all his type! Anthony managed to hold the floor with a banking conversation that lasted far longer than is right for a Friday night. Ken's hair just keeps getting longer and longer. Holly mistook him for a piece of 60s memorabilia when we popped into The Cavern Club. We popped out quickly enough after finding it far too crowded for our liking - and noticing all the old men leering.

It's one of those signs-you're-getting-older when all you want to find on a Friday night is a nice quiet bar where you can go and actually hear each other talk.... and you have to settle for Expressaholic because actually a nice piece of cake sounds much better than another drink..... Though, I do remember drinking my Mocha-Latte and preaching about it to anyone that would listen. It's the only place I've ever found that does a Mocha-Latte.

Am having a very relaxing Saturday morning, having only risen from bed to put some washing on and change to the next DVD in my Gilmore Girls series. I can hear the buzzer and whistles coming from the netball courts. Not a bad day to be outside doing sporty stuff, if that's what your'e into..... Me, I'm a sloth. I might creep downstairs and make some Vogels cereal with greek yoghurt. Mmmm.

* * *

Richard watches a lot of news shows. No wonder he's so gosh-darned smart about the world.

FELLOW STALKERS!

There have, this summer, been a rash of celebrity spottings in Wellington. It may be that I just run with a very hip crowd who happen to be in the know and funky and bound to be found where the action is...... or it could be fortunate coincidence.

Either way - here are my sightings.

I have seen Brett McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame at indoor netball twice now. Sam saw him too. His concurrence verified my suspician of celebrity in our midst. While we weren't playing against him, we seem to have a habit of coming on just after he plays. Last week he must've known some people in the opposition, so he stayed and watched our game. Brett has LOOKED AT MEEEEE! As I have told many people, this happens to be the game where one minute prior to having to take the court, I heard a rrrrrrrip in my pants. And I had torn a big hole in the seat of my shorts. I played on. Brett may have glimpsed my undergarments!

Many other people have had similar, less risque, encounters with Brett. Sam from work touched his arm when greeting him at the Southern Cross. Julie from work saw him (and, quite incidentally Sigourney Weaver) at Nikau Cafe one weekend.

Two sightings have been reported of Giovanni Ribissi in town. Both report a 'jaunty' walk that he seems to have as his signature.

So..... Any more reports of celebrities in our midst? Do comment.

Last Full Week of Holidays

1. I love the honey-flavoured Greek yogurts you can buy. I refuse to acknowledge that it is not actually healthy. It has the word 'yogurt' in it.... that means it must be low-fat and good for you!

2. I liked tonight's Frisbee game. After brief worries around 4.30pm when the third player of the day texted to pull out.... we ended up having a good sized team there (once I confirmed Janine was happy to play again, Justin got out of working late and Damon brought along a really good ring-in also - who should, by the way, come play again some time!). I felt very red and puffed for the most part, which means it was a good game. Good exercise, anyhow. Every single person on their team was super-fit and super-fast. I like trying to bags the slow person to defend... but there just was none! I think, although we lost, we were all fairly happy with how we're progressing. We have a lot more long-threats. The team we played was pretty nice to play - not all rules-anal.

3. Thinking of the inauguration coming up reminds me that I was at Bill Clinton's first one. We were on a family trip to America and Mum manged to time it so that we saw heaps of cool stuff. We were in Chicago for Christmas day, where we went to a Bulls game in their final season at Chicago Stadium (versus one of their main rivals at the time, the Knicks). We were in New York for New Year's Eve, to see the ball drop in Times Square. And we were in Washington right when the inauguration was happening. I was actually sick through most of NY and Washington, in bed with some fever/flu thing. So I stayed home that day - went to a deli with Dad and got a really good sandwich (one of those multi-layers of meat ones they make over there) and watched it on TV. I remember there were heaps of Pro-Life rallies on, because Clinton I think was known for being more Pro-Choice. My mum felt really brave cause she found out that the blue ribbon represented Pro-Choice and she wore a blue ribbon around, right through these rallies.

If music be the love of food....

Saturday night was a faux BBQ. We womanfolk of the flat decided it was time to use our poor forgotten BBQ again.

We dragged it downstairs (through the flat), so that it was in a more alluring position, on the front steps. On the way we dropped kitty litter from the drip-tray all over the carpet and had moments of wishing Kyle was home. But we got it there.

What we really cooked (and I use the term 'we' liberally, as most of it was Reidun) was a roast with lots of veges. Most things had a turn in the BBQ, but did a fair amount of time in the stove and oven too. So, it could just as easily have been an oven-roast.... but the principle was that we were using the BBQ.

The crackling got burnt, but after a good scraping off we ate it. At first we just nibbled it, so that Reidun wouldn't feel it had been wasted - but then we became addicted to the grease and we polished it off before dinner had even been served. Crackling is a good ice-breaker for a dinner party.

We had roast pork with home made apple sauce and jus. We had broccoli with home made cheese sauce. We had a spinach, pear, blue-cheese and walnut salad (my only contribution). We had a medley of roast vegetables, including kumara, potato, pumpkin and carrots.

We had gin and tonic with lemon wedges. I used to think they were only for depressed old ladies - I am now converted to the joy of them (or I have, in fact, become a depressed old lady myself and in denial). We had red wine (the one with a pretty picture of a lady riding a bicycle on the label). We had more red wine (from the cask).

I commented that I felt like I was in the scene at the end of Jamie's Kitchen, where everyone is handing around the food, and there's loud laughter and funky music in the background. Pukka tukka! I like it when actual dinner parties feel like that.

There was apple crumble (using the apples from our back-yard) with chai-whipped-cream and gourmet vanilla ice-cream.

We three and our guest then watched Strictly Ballroom and Dirty Dancing. There was a theme. We commented knowingly on top-lines and heel-leads. I pointed out that the thrust of the plot for Dirty Dancing was everyone pulling together to get an abortion. I wonder if it was actually marketed as a family movie, or if it accidentally became a cult classic for every girl growing up in the 80s. There are certainly more steamy scenes and sexual innuendo than you notice as a kid...

Reidun used the left0ver cream to do real chai lattes for us (served in glasses with folded napkins, like the professionals do).

Today I woke up to Reidun knocking on my door telling me there was home-made banana bread and Grease downstairs. I was looking confused at the grease offering, until I realised it wasn't going to be spread on the banana-bread. Carly then gave us some of her home-made onion soup for lunch and there was mulled wine simmering away on the stove all afternoon (to use up the cask wine).

* * *
Incidentally, I played my first game of indoor ultimate for the season tonight. I was on the Zesty team. It was fun. It'll be good if we have slightly less subs there some nights, but it was a nice mix of people. We beat the other Creatures team by a decent margin.

I think our team might have had less brand-new people, or at least our ones caught on really quickly. We had the instincts right and even the brand-new people had decent hands for catching and a nose for the scoring zone. Not many of our passes went wildly astray - good sensible options. Mike held it all steady with some experience and advice.

I played fairly loose defence, since I was marking new players most of the time and didn't want to freak them out. On offence I think I did ok - didn't drop any catches, threw mostly good passes (except for a few overly ambitious ones in the zone). Caught a few points and passed at least one. It's certainly an advantage if you're taller than your marker, once you get down to the key-hole. That element is more like the sports I'm used to, where you can just kinda post up and hold space, waiting for the lob. And passing was a lot easier than in outdoors. Since we had so many subs, you were only usually on for two points, then off for a few. That meant you were always fairly fresh when you were on, so it was easy to fast-break and keep up with your player.

Looking back, I think our poor Cows Go Moo team had a real baptism by fire - our first game ever was on a day where there were gale-force wind warnings on the radio. If we'd started with indoors, we might all have been a lot happier from the get-go! And it suits our style of game quite well, with the quick passing up court, rather than set plays.

It was a bit odd going from playing with all my friends to playing on a team where I knew one person's name confidently. It's always a bit of a flash-back to high-school days, where I'd be the youngest on my basketball team and I could easily go to practices and say 'hi' and 'see ya' but nothing much in between. It's Shy Katie territory. I made a few in-context comments, like 'Good point' and 'Sorry about that - kinda led you into the wall with that pass' and 'Nah, I'll go on next point.' But nothing terribly chatty.

I've gone from being the captain to being something way down the line, quite happy to just follow and do what I'm told. I think the Creatures franchise is a place where they have more than enough chiefs, so I'm happy being an Indian.

*Note: The title of this blog is how a kid in my class actually read out that line from 'Twelth Night' when we were doing a read-through last term. Teaching has its humour.

On Buses.

I have been taking buses to and from town during the week to avoid the hassle of parking.

I had two nice bus drivers today. The first one was a lady. We were driving directly behind another trolley-bus from Manners St to Lambton Quay. Sitting in the back of the other trolley-bus was a women with two week kids, about 2 and 3 years old. They were very excited by the journey, and kept turning back to look at our bus. The driver of my bus would smile and wave at them, and they'd wave back. If they got a bit ahead of us, the kids would keep watching, wistfully.... until we caught up at the lights, where they'd wave to the driver again. You could tell she was quite enjoying this little interaction. Cute kids too - curly hair and big eyes and grins. I was thinking, 'How could a kid so angelic looking ever be any trouble??'

Then at the lights by the Old Bank Arcade our driver slowed down, then suddenly accelerated towards them for about a metre, just after the lights had gone red.... Some lady halfway across the crossing got a shock and shot my nice bus driver an evil glare. She looked like your typical middle-aged rich lady out to check out the latest stock at Kircaldies..... My driver just smiled and laughed. I think she got a kick out of giving the old biddy a scare. I enjoyed seeing that too.

Nice that she kept herself entertained :) Better than a grumpy driver.

* * *

Got a haircut today. Hairdressers are obsessed with cutting hair shorter and shorter and making fringes more pronounced. That is all I have to say about that.

* * *

I bought a couple of things from Riccochet. On sale, of course (their stuff is ridiculously expensive and I resent that you have to step outside the changing rooms to find a mirror). That means I am officially 'urban chic' now :) Or maybe I still have to buy something from Starfish....

Time Capsule - 1972

I ripped open another box of stuff-from-Dad's. This one had lots of clothes and stuffed toys. And it did have my mum's wedding dress in it. Here is a photo of my mum and dad on their wedding day. They had it at the Waterloo Hotel, which is now a backpackers, opposite the Wellington Railway Station. They didn't have any religious elements and wrote their own vows, which was rarer for the 70s. That's me and my brother having a bath, on the right. I miss Polaroid cameras.

Mum's dress was by some designer who had a boutique up north somewhere (quite trendy at the time, apparently). Dad wore a Spanish leather jacket that Mum made him buy (his only trendy clothes purchase ever).

I fit it. Only just. My mum was skinnier than me, pre-babies. She was a bean-pole (and it was the 70s and I think she did the odd bit of speed, if not other drugs, which she sincerely warned me against in my teens), though I think we're basically similar proportions.


It has moth-holes and rust stains on it now, but it's still quite beautiful to me. If you took the chiffon sleeves and chest bits off and made it a bit longer , it'd be pretty much exactly perfect. It has these really delicate pleats in the chiffon, from the waistband to mid-thigh, then it has looser pleats and flares out a little more, with a satin under-dress. I perhaps shouldn't have had my black leggings on under it...

I think me and Mum were both 'dress people'. It's funny to think of a parent as 'fashionable', since that element of them seems to be sacrificed once they have children (more fat, less money, less glamorous occasions). But I think Mum was a pretty stylish lady back in the swinging 60s and 70s.


A couple of weeks after my birthday this year, my life will be split in half exactly (half with Mum alive, half without). That's an odd thought.

To Quiz

1. Me and all of my flatmates (and other invited guests) went to the local quiz last night.

2. We named ourselves 'Crazy Cat Lady and Friends' after Carly and her antics on the walk to the pub (her cat followed us and had to be carried home, Mamma's Boy). We did not win any spot prizes.

3. I was disappointed that the quiz master was not the one from last time - this one did not wear the Quiz Master Cape with panache and he had to spell out the 'tricky' words.

4. I had fish for dinner. I hardly ever order the fish.

5. The people at the table next to me were people I'd gone to school with, all three of them. I didn't say hello though. I've seen them down there before, and once you don't say hello the first time it gets more awkward to suddenly pretend you recognise them..... I will say hi next time, though! They beat us in a tie-breaker. They are smart. All people from my town must therefore be smart. One of them was one of my brother's best friends at school. He seems very conservative, but secretly I know he has his nipples pierced.

6. It was a nice surprise when Sam turned up.

7. Reidun pointed out a guy she thought I'd like - and I'd already seen him earlier and thought that he was dapper looking. She knows my taste.

8. Apparently Danyon Loader was there, though I couldn't see him.

9. Kyle had heard the same quiz being read at his work earlier in the week - so he knew the ponderous puzzle before the first clue was even given. That may have helped our points total. Lichtenstein.

10. We all went for coffee and cake afterwards. That is not an easy task at 11pm on a Thursday, evidently. The first four places we tried already had the chairs up and shooed us away. We finally went to Midnight Espresso. I had a strawberry and rhubarb cake, which was good. It had fluffy pink icing.

* * *

I am now going to read 'The Half Brother' by Lars Saabye Christensen. I have read another book of his, 'Herman' which I thoroughly liked. It's about a balding boy whose dad is a crane driver and who has a crush on a girl with bright red hair. He's sweet. I like books with innocence and tiny observations.

* * *

I started learning how to play my ukulele in earnest tonight. I'm not sure if I have it tuned quite right. My highlight thusfar is learning to play 'Soon Forget' by Eddie Vedder. I've always liked that song. It's quite hard to play on the guitar, being barred on a very high fret, but relatively easy on the uke.

* * *

I had promised to email some feedback to students last week. I had put it off until yesterday. Three of them have emailed back saying 'thanks'. Some kids have good manners. If I had favourites, it might be them.

The things I'll do for Chocolate

Last night I bought a block of Cadbury Gold - a new flavour that's dark chocolate with crunchy toffee pieces (it was ok, but not as magical as I had imagined).

Today after school I hopped in my car and found two pieces had somehow escaped the pack and were sitting on the passenger seat next to me.

It had been sunny that afternoon, and they were quite melted and mushy.

Not one to waste good chocolate, I scraped off the blob from the top and ate it.

As I looked in the rear-view-mirror, licking my fingers, and saw the smears of chocolate around my face and glanced over at the brown chocolately stain left on the other seat.....

I realised it was not my best moment.

* * *

Speaking of delicious things.... while I have been vaguely aware of the 'delicious' website I only just got myself an account this weekend.

It's awesome! I've heard the novelty wears off, but for now I am book-marking and tagging like crazy.

Toy Story 3

I haven't really watched the previous Toy Story movies (enough of the quotes and images are ingrained in kid-pop-culture that I feel like I've seen them, though).

But Rich had cheap tickets and I tend to like the good quality kiddie-cartoony things.

It was decent. It left me less frustrated than Inception.

I think I have a rather immature emotional core, so I do like the simple moral messages in those kinda films. Loyalty and courage are pretty awesome values. If only life was so simple.

It made me think of my favourite childhood toy, Ellie. I was bloody loyal to Ellie. He went on many family trips with me and I pretend-stitched up the hole in his neck many times (for some reason I thought it necessary to douse him in talcum powder each time I pretend-operated on him - wasn't quite sure what else to use it for and I had a couple of containers of it from Nana).

But I don't know where Ellie is.

It causes me pangs of anxiety.

I know that he was at my Dad's house. I know that when he moved in with his wife, Ellie was put in a box labelled 'stuffed toys'. I know that he was on a shelf up in the loft of the new house for a while.

I also know that their dog likes to chew soft toys and had been fed many of my old stuffed animals (to my chagrin). I also know that many of my old toys had been regifted to younger nephews and neices. But surely Ellie was too old and beat-up to be donated.....

They have moved house again and Ellie was apparently boxed up with some other 'treasures' for me, which I only just got .... but he's not in any of the boxes.

I have to accept the fact that Ellie may have been eaten by a dog.

That makes me feel bad.

I think this incident may come up if I even need counselling and am asked, 'So how did your father's remarrying affect you?'

Now that's what I call a haka. From the NZ Maori vs England.


(I stoled the link from a proper blog.)

Good Conception

I really wanted to like 'Inception' - to love it, even.

1. I like Chris Nolan's films of late ('Dark Knight', 'Momento')
2. I like Leonardo's films of late ('The Departed', 'Shutter Island')
3. I like Ellen Page ('Juno')
4. I like twist endings - I heard this had a good one

It's always a bit of a burden for a film to live up to expectations of 'Best film of the year', which had been bandied about in reviews. But then, the same had been said about 'Dark Knight' and I had come out of that impressed.

Anyhow, I didn't love it.

'Inception' has a rather nifty premise and a few interesting complications. It has some good visual effects. But that's about it.

The trickier philosophical aspects of the dream-state, which could have been explored in an interesting way, were just kinda brushed over. I found the ensemble cast a bit uncohesive, with some characters seeming random or unnecessary (especially Ellen Page's character, who served very little purpose really - it could certainly have been played by some generic actor, as I don't think the role used her real skills and she become quite annoying). The whole last section was this very loud, unrelenting chase scene. Like Richard, I found it really loud and would have liked some respite, perhaps a nice bit of dialogue or genuine character development.

The highlight for me was Jonathan Gordan-Levitt's character. That kid is becoming pretty suave.

Anyhow, not a bad movie, but for me it didn't have the emotional depth of 'Dark Knight'.

Dialogue - anyone can write it!

So, in 'The Room', Tommy uses dialogue to tell the story. Literally. And as Richard pointed out, if he thinks the audience might have missed something (which would be impossible with the sledge-hammer subtlty of the film) he'll repeat it in the next scene.

Say, for example there is a scene where Tommy wants to establish that Lisa (Johnny's fiance) is really in love with Mark, but that it is wrong because Mark is Johnny's best friend... the dialogue would go something like this:

Lisa: Hi Mark - I'm in love with you.
Mark: But I can't do anything.... Johnny's my best friend.
Lisa: But I want your body. I'm not in love with him anymore.
Mark: But he's my best friend!
Lisa: I know he's your best friend, but I don't love him anymore.

Genius. As I tell my classes, 'Show, don't tell'.

It is pointed out so many times that Mark is Johnny's best friend that it is custom to yell 'Johnny's your best friend!' any time Mark comes on the screen.

Classic Dialogue - Top Five
1. 'Oh, hi!'

The movie is pretty much a series of people entering and exiting rooms (usually 'The Room' but sometimes the rooftop too). Every time anyone comes in, they are greeted with, 'Oh, hi [insert name]'. Never any surprise or note of bitterness over the fact that these people just keep turning up uninvited.

A classic example follows - Johnny goes up to the tiny rooftop ranting to himself, and about 10 seconds later notices that Mark is up there too. It's easy to miss someone up there....


2. What's in your pocket?

At the surprise party, a mysterious new character turns up and starts talking to everyone like he's a main character. In the credits he comes up as 'Steven' but in reality he got given Peter's lines when the actor left mid-shoot. Tommy didn't feel this needed to be explained or that the script might need amending.... nobody will notice.....

Anyhow, check out this BURN from Mark.



Hell yeah, I'm gonna use that next time someone says something stupid in my comments.

3. Unecessary Redundancies

Lisa: Did you get your promotion?
Johnny: Nah.
Lisa: You didn't get it, did you?
4. Johnny is Smart and So is Lisa
Johnny's response on walking in to The Room to find there's a surprise birthday party for him.

Johnny: Thank you honey, this is a beautiful party! You invited all my friends. Good thinking!

Bonus quote: Tommy researched what people do all day at the bank, so make Johnny's career seem believable. Followed by a masterful deflection question that seamlessly fit into the conversation.

Mark: How was work today?
Johnny: Oh pretty good. We got a new client... at the bank. We make a lot of money.
Mark: What client?
Johnny: I can not tell you, it's confidential.
Mark: Oh come on. Why not?
Johnny: No I can't. Anyway, how is your sex life?

5. Sexy Talk

It realls does sound like a soft-porn....

Lisa: I just wanted to hear your sexy voice. I keep thinking about your strong hands around my body. It excites me so much.

Space Age

They have promised it for years. Since the Jetsons and Star Trek, I have been eagerly awaiting the 'future'.

Now, at work, I finally feel I am there.

We are now able to [drum-roll please]..... enter the roll by computer! No more grudgingly spending 5 minutes after school scrawling out the names of all the kids who were away. No siree.

My life has changed. I will never again have to get to 4pm, about to leave, and curse at the 'bloody yellow sheet' I have forgotten to fill in. Never again!

Goodbye, Yellow Sheet!

* * *

And Clayton was found guilty. There is sense. And no more 'provocation'. Good good. And for purposely being a dickhead during his trial, he now has death-threats. Give you something to think about.

* * *

My Wolverine-claw scares the cat. My claws are bigger than his. And they go 'cha-ching' when I extend them. He is in awe of my awesomeness.

* * *

And the Elf-Girl..... has written all her poems about elves. I very seriously said, 'Didn't we agree only two of them would be about elves?' and she corrected me saying, 'But that one's just about a dragon.'

I am ignorant. Elves, fairies, dragons .... aren't they all the same?

I may well be the meanest teacher ev-er.

Must-see Movie - Unintentional Genius

Rich had given me a list of movies he wanted to see at the Film Festival. There were only a couple I could actually go to, so I said I'd see 'The Room' with him. I knew nothing about it, other than that the short review in the guide said it was the 'Citizen Kane of bad films' which seemed a lofty compliment. And it said it was directed/written/produced/funded by (for $6million) and starred an eccentric and somewhat hideous man, Tommy Wiseau.

To be honest, I wasn't that fussed about it, but fancied a night out at a potentially weird film. Richard apologised-in-advance for it, as he suspected it might be a flop. Sam sniggered at us and said he was definitely not going to this one.

How wrong could we all be!

IT WAS AMAZING!

To tell you the truth, I have much trepidation about writing a review of it, because I know I will not do it justice. But I will attempt do share the joy that was 'The Room' by Tommy Wiseau.

1. The Theatre

There is a definite difference between a good film and a good movie-going-experience. Rich and I will often go to a very good film, which we'll admit we enjoyed on a cinematic and philosophical level, but would not recommend to many people we know. When we walked out of this film, still laughing, we were already talking about buying a copy of it and forcing our friends to watch

('Morgan would love how perfectly bad it is.... Michelle loves bad movies anyhow - so many quotes for her to learn!..... Sam will have to admit that he made a mistake!').

Back to the movie-going experience, then.

Everything seemed relatively normal until people started giving out packs of plastic spoons.

Large pockets of people burst into applause when the 'Wiseau Productions' logo came onto the screen. The guy introducing the film on the mic had warned that people in Auckland had been yelling out lines of their favourite dialogue before it happened and had some off as cocks..... The anticipation was high at this point.

Somewhere in the first ten minutes, on cue, hundreds of plastic spoons were thrown at the screen as everyone chorused 'SPOONS!'.

A spoon landed fortuitously on my lap, which I kept as a momento. Another one hit me on the side of the head, but I didn't mind. Rich figured out part-way through the film at what moments they were doing it and I've found clips of similar screenings on youtube.





2. Actors
The actors, from the very first soft-porn scene, were terrible. To be fair, in terms of plot and dialogue, they didn't have much to work with, so it was only partially their fault.

The director/actor played the lead role of 'Johnny'. He has a European accent, something akin to what Arnold Schwartenager sounded like in his earliest films. He seemed to emphasise the wrong words and had huge pauses at odd moments. And he had a fake laugh, where he tilted his head back, which he did some 300 times in the film (someone counted). Apparently most of his dialogue had to be redubbed, so he looks oddly ninja-like in that his timing is a little off.

From his very first line of dialogue I had to join in with the laughter. I'm not a laugh-out-loud at movies kinda girl, normally. But this one had me at 'hello' (or 'oh, hi!').

On top of his terrible line-delivery, he's an odd looking man. He looks like a 45 year old who's had a lot of surgery to try to look 30 and the end result is somewhat grotesque. In the sex scenes, you can see his 'muscles', which are oddly lumpy and look like cellulite has been injected into muscle-pockets around his body. As director, he is drawn to close-up shots of his own clenching buttocks during the sex scenes. He is really clenching, too. There are fist-sized dimples in his buttocks cheeks. No body doubles in this film.

It really does come across as a soft-porn made by a rich guy who wanted to do a wee project with his buddies, none of whom could act. Yet, having read reviews, this apparently was something like 12 years in the planning. And he auditioned people. He has written a play and novel of the same title. He is actually trying.....

Here is one of the best bits of acting from him in the movie:



To be continued.....

Watch out for the terrible dialogue, continuity gaffs and culdersac plot lines.

And here's a link to another review that puts it well, to all those smug people who don't want to see 'another bad movie' (it even has a rap video homage to 'The Room').

Back at school. It's ok.

I wore jeans on Friday. Got a couple of comments about how it looked casual. Other people wear jeans all the time. Truth is, only reason I don't usually wear jeans is because I'm too fat for most of mine. Just got a new pair that's fairly generously proportioned. Hence I wore them.

* * *

Had my Logan Brown dinner. Nice! Free Logan Brown is the best. I had fish croquettes, roast pork and a chocolate pot. They all had fancier names than that, of course. I'm a fan of the $40 bistro menu, and I didn't even feel hungry afterwards.

* * *

Went to a Film Fest movie with Rich and Sam today. It was decent. It was probably a little more Hollywood-y in its formula than your usual Film Fest fare, but it was good. Had some interesting religious tussles in it. The slave guy was hot.

Going to another one tonight - the review said it is the 'Citizen Cane of bad movies'. Awesome!

* * *

I love chewing gum. Makes me feel like I'm on speed or something.

* * *

Having Japanese for dinner again tonight. Bring it on! In about the last month I've had Japanese take-aways from my local, gone to two different restaurants and rocked it at the sushi-train with Cass (who was a sushi-train virgin). Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.

* * *

I'm really slow at the moment. I was totally rubbish at netball and basketball this week. Slower than usual even. And no reserves of energy. I think I'm old. And out of shape. And stuff.

* * *

Erm. What else...... Nothing really. My Levin friends had a baby called Thomas. None of you would know them, though. Lynne got out of hospital last weekend after about four or five days in there. Sounded ok. I'll have to go down and visit them all soonish.

* * *

Looking forward to a weekend away next week - Justin's 30th. He's sent us a menu and drinks list - awesome! I think we're all just gonna be drunk, playing poker.

* * *

Though I still refuse to read the books, as an actually literate person, I do admit to liking the Twilight movies. Not for their cinematic qualities, but for the angst and sexual tension between the young hotties. I'm embracing the cougar within. I may have mentioned this. I will now openly defend the hotness of Jacob and deride anyone who is loyal to Edward.

* * *

I was explaining the whole Naspter/Metallica thing and was happy that kids in my class actually knew who Metallica were (whereas I had to explain that Napster was kinda like Limewire, 'cause they hadn't heard of that website before).

* * *

I'm texting like there's no tomorrow at the moment. Gotta use up my 300 free Two-Degrees texts before the month is up! Feel free to send me non-transactional texts - I may actually reply! Makes me feel like Santa Claus, generously replying willy-nilly to texts I'd usually file in the no-response-necessary basket.

* * *

Roger that.



Over and out, Big Mama.

Svend brings up a good point. If the Spice Girls are to the younger generation what Abba was to us...... what else can we compare.....

Maybe the Jimi Hendrix of our generation was Jeff Buckley. Maybe Jack Johnson was the Donavan.

Alanis Morisette was the the Janis Joplin (though a poor substitute), or maybe Tracy Chapman is better. Britney Speares was the Judy Garland.

I can't quite figure out who Nirvana equal.

You're not a unique and beautiful snowflake, buddy.

I find some psychopaths and criminals fascinating. I was that kid who got out books on serial killers from the library. I read all about Ted Bundy and the Boston Strangler. I admire Hanibal Lector as I see him in films.

The murderer currently in our nation's news is quite uninteresting, though (irritating, but uninteresting). There's something pathetic about someone so desperate to be studied or looked at as a special case. He has put himself on display and seems to almost sit on the stand smugly saying, 'Aren't I fascinating?' when he's really just someone you'd meet and say, 'Wow - he's a bit of a dick.'

Obviously a dick to the point that he's unstable and not fit to be amongst people. My resident law-graduate says there's not much hope of him getting his manslaughter conviction, which comforts me.

As is now the focus of the trial, all of this may well have been hammed for the benefit of his defence, which hinges on his being narcissistic.

I read someone's take on why the 'provocation' loophole should be closed up. Seemed logical. I like to think there are no circumstances under which someone could provoke me to murder them.

Prisons seem to be filled with people who have some kind of mental illness or trauma inflicted on them, so you can to an extent feel sorry for a lot of them. You could make an extreme case for them all being victims. It's this logic that makes me agree that we shouldn't have a death penalty. But, if someone can't control themselves to the point that they're a danger to other people, they should certainly be in jail.

To me, that's the purpose of jail. It's not so much a punishment for criminals as it is a safeguard to society. We have a kind of delicate balance where we have to trust that other people will respect our basic rights. Laws can only go so far in ensuring this, so we have to believe that people around us have empathy and control.

Anyhow. I digress.

In short, send him to jail. For a long time. But don't write a book about him. I'm sure if anyone did, he'd offer to sign copies of it from his jail-cell and write the foreword himself.

* * *

Ultimate - a synonym for 'supreme'?

Cassie's little brother finds good pages to link to.

This page is funny. This entry is funny especially because I have played Ultimate and I am white! And, come to think of it, my team was pretty much white too.

Whipper Snappers

The mid-week basketball league has two things that go against my team. Firstly, they used to have a rule where no inter-city players could play in it during the winter season. My team has no inter-city players, so that's good for us. It means the other teams have a lot more old ladies in them. Back in those days we even made the finals of the top grade occasionally.

They don't have that rule anymore. So we're playing the best players in Wellington sometimes. And the teams tend to be stacked, rather than just have one or two good players. They flock to the same clubs (not ours).

Secondly, the league starts off with a mixed A and B division, then splits mid-season after grading games. We usually fall just bellow the middle of the pack, so we have a nice time in B grade.

This season the team that's usually the whipping-boy of A grade 'lost' their game to us (we have conspiracy theories) which meant we went up to A grade.

Holy crap.

We're playing kids in their 20s who train and full court press. We do ok inside on defence, but these teams play set plays where they pretty much swing it around the court to get 3 pointers in the corner, or they fast break. A lot.

In this picture, I'd like to say it's the red reflecting off my shirt... but it's not. This is 20 minutes after our game. I had no subs all game. We were playing a team of mostly Asian girls, with two giants (Polynesian/Asian hybrids). We were only down 15-10 after about the first quarter.

Then they full-court pressed and went on a 50-4 run.

Ouch.

I caught some little five foot Chinese girls on fast breaks and blocked them. That was the only high point in an awful game.

And this is pretty typical of the A grade. Last week we lost by 20 against the Under 17 Wellington team (which has junior NZ players in it) and we felt pretty good.

I'm tired.

Highlights

1. The Walk

One of the most important moments for the maid of the bride is the walk down the aisle. At the rehearsal the photographer and celebrant both berated me for walking too fast when it was my turn. So that was something to concentrate on.

Then on the day, when not wearing my sneakers this time, I realised the hazard of walking down a grassy aisle between two grapevines. My stilettos sunk pretty much all the way into the dirt. Sarah had advised beforehand that I needed to walk on my toes to avoid sinking in. There were also huge cracks in the paving stones once you reached the court-yard, which I had to make my way across somehow. The whole time I was repeating a mantra to myself of, 'Walk on your toes. Not too fast. Avoid the cracks. Smile.' I'm sure I looked elegant and relaxed....

I had romantic visions of losing a shoe Cinderella style, but it didn't happen.

By the end of the ceremony I really was wondering why Sarah had picked me for such an elegant ocassion... did she not remember what I was like???



(The picture is a self portrait done in the bathroom to try and capture the glory of The Silver - my aim was not great.)

2. The Signing
Pretty much the only other thing I had to do was sign the wedding certificate. It was sitting on a little table, with three lit candles in front of it, two of them tapered. As I went to sit down I somehow hit one of the tapered ones (which were fairly unsteady looking anyhow) and it started falling towards my face. I think I caught it just as the flame danced upon my chin.

I propped it back up and wondered if it would have been a bad omen if I'd extinguished the flame of Sarah's family..... Then the celebrant came and started wiping at my chin, saying there was actually something there. So I had candle-ash on my chin.

I was then so flustered that I may have spelt some of the details on the certificate wrong (my street address...). There is a lot to write! And everybody is just sitting there watching and you get through it all and the celebrant tells you to write it all again on the second copy!

I was very close to almost burning the certificate or perhaps lighting my hairspray filled hair into a fire ball. Close escape....

3. The Wine
Sarah had recommended the pinot noir, which was $90 a bottle. I had a glass of that and kept thinking that it was odd I'd only had one sip.... then realised that the waiters were refilling it every time they came past. That's a worry.

The crowd was an odd combination of Germans, who seemed to stick together and liked speaking German and drinking.... and the kiwis, who were quite reserved. Hard to mingle in.

Once the dancing started I felt it my obligation to represent NZ on the floor. At first it was just Germans up there. So I downed a few more quick wines and got up. As conspicuous as I felt, in my shiny bottom-highlighting dress, I stayed dancing until the bitter end. I know that couples feel bad if they've hired a DJ and picked music and it's not utilised with dancing. Afraid the open bar was running out, I had a couple more glasses of wine.

By midnight I may have been starting to get tipsy. Maybe. It was just me and the Germans and I began 'speaking German'. It may have been just broken English with a thick German accent, but I felt it had to be done. Apparently I kept it up for quite some time. Me and the best man went back to our villa and the bride's parents and the brides and groom were still up having cups of tea. They evidently found me quite amusing and requested repeats of my stunning German the next day.

Meanwhile there was some lovely German boy I was supposed to meet, talk to, fall in love with and marry. I think I talked to him at the bar for five minutes when I was already on the way to my tipsy state. He seemed nice enough, but he didn't propose or anything.

4. The Bath

The villa was incredibly over the top and luxurious. It was like a mini Elton John mansion. Every room had a Chandler and every couch had 20 cushions. One of the bathrooms had a bath with mirrors on three sides of it. I had to try it.

I could not think of anything less appealing than standing up dripping wet and seeing naked Kates to infinity, but it provided me with a morbid fascination.

The post-wedding morning the mother of the bride offered me the use of ensuite with the mirrors. I had to take the opportunity. My ensuite only had a shower. A nice shower, albeit, but it had no porn-star mirrors.

It was surprisingly tasteful. Once you were sitting in the bath, you could only really see the top of your torso. I could have taken some very tasteful soft-porn of myself (had I not misplaced my camera in my drunken state). And by the time I stood up at the end, the mirrors had all fogged up.

In my wardrobe there was a big fluffy robe and slippers. I wore the slippers for most of the two days I was there. It may have looked odd, especially at the brunch the next day... but it had to be done. It was my Hugh Heffner touch.

PS - While I think the bride realised The Silver Dress was not my best look ever, there was no conversation about its ill-fitting-ness. It went unsaid. She was so on edge enough that I said I loved everything - and I mainly did. The Bride does not read my blog (hence I can be more candid here) but she does read my facebook (hence there is no mention of my trepidation towards the dress on there).

I'm not insulting her taste, as such. She is an incredibly stylish person. More so than myself. The dress itself would look stunning on a really thin person. The fact that she thought it would look good on me might really be a compliment to me.... and she did, in the end, let me wear my own shoes! (After I showed her a picture of them and they were deemed acceptable. Phew.)

A few people made some generic comments about me looking lovely, but a more common question was, 'So, did you get the dress or did the bride get it in London?' to which I would wholeheartedly say, 'Oh - she got it. In London.' That would satisfy their curiosity and I sensed sympathy at that point.

Phone Contact

I really don't like phones. I think it's a primary motivator to my career choice - not much use of telephones as a teacher. I cringe pretty much any time someone walks up to me with a phone and says it's for me. It can never be a good thing. Especially at work. It'll be someone trying to direct-market their printing services to me or it'll be some parent with an issue, to which the answer may well be 'Your kid just needs to harden up' (which is a response we're not allowed to use, by law....).

And that extends to my personal life. Phones are yuck. They are good when I'm trying to organise things with friends (even though I have been accused of being crap even at that interaction). They are good when I have a crush on a guy and he texts me something that actually means 'I was thinking of you' in code.

In most other contexts I do not like them.

They intrude upon the Bubble of Kate. They demand a response, even if I really don't want to give one. They haunt me if I don't respond and know I should.

I like this page of World Cup advertising stuff. Interesting ideas.

* * *

I like messing with kids.

My five year old step-neice has a chalk-board in her lounge.

She was getting me to draw pictures of the giant squid she'd seen at Te Papa the previous day. I got her flustered by drawing shoes and a moustache on it - she had to rub it out with her hands. But then she didn't mind when I gave it sharp teeth and drew blood around its mouth.

She liked it so much that she copied it at lunch. She kept hanging food out of her mouth and saying, 'It's my blooooood, like the squid.'

* * *

Saw a thriller from Argentina last night at the Penthouse. It came together nicely at the end (though rather conveniently). I can imagine it being remade in America with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.....

* * *

I don't know why the quiz team vetoed my idea of 'Team Jacob' as our name. Even Ant admitted he'd turn gay for Jacob.

* * *

While my geometic moo-moo dress was a risky purchase, I'm glad I made it. Moo-moo dresses rule! They're the ultimate outfit to wear for a yum-cha lunch or family dinner at the Chinese restaurant. Just give me a sack with a belt and I'm happy!

And the 'muted colours' (as described by a Design student I teach) make me 'on trend'.

Yeah, I watch the E channel too much.......

* * *

I'm still miffed about the laundromat fantasies not being real. Today a guy came in when I'd just got up to put more money in my machine.... and I'd left my magazine at the chair I'd been sitting at..... and he stole my place! I had to rather obviously go and rescue my magazine from under the Magnum icecream he'd just put on top of it while he loaded his machine. Hmmmph!

* * *

The satay sauce in a pouch that you can get from Moore Wilson's or Pak 'n' Save (for pretty much the same price) is delicious! I may have mentioned this before, but I had some tonight with chicken and Singapore noodles and it was just like real takeaways! Look on the cold-shelf at your local.